TNAG-2679-FCO40-3876-British-Trade-Commission--Hong-Kong--and-China-Trade-Unit-re-1993 — Page 8

10-DEC-1993 11:04

BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION

ye

ODE 18-77

M-Wood

cc: Mr Fry, FED, FCO

Mr Ricketts, HKD, FCO Chancery Lisbon

Chancery Peking

TC

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Reference

Mr Ermita jäll

P.05

MACAU

1. Thank you for your helpful briefing for my first visit to Macau for the visit of President Soares. The ceremonies were distinctly protocol bound and we had little chance to break away from the pack. I had been warned to expect long periods of waiting interspersed with short periods of chaos. But in the event the chaos never materialised: the Diplomatic Adviser to the Governor, Joao Mira Gomes,

Joao Mira Gomes, is a competent and pleasant operator. Most of my colleagues thought him far better than his predecessors.

Soares

2. The theme of Soares's visit was partnership between Portugal and China, and smooth transition for Macau. told the grandees of Macau that the Portuguese Prime Minister would visit China next year and that he himself was considering a visit. 7 note that Soares has since said the human rights situation in China was improving. The symbolism was embodied in a remarkable monument, inaugurated with much dragon dancing, many firecrackers and a striking sound and light show, which stands looking across a tributary of the Pearl River to China. In my view, the symbolism does not quite work out: the monument is essentially two pillars standing well apart and could represent confrontation as much as partnership. But the people of Macau applauded. The Chinese opposite carried on blasting operations on the hill which is being removed as landfill for the new Macau Adisport. So firecrackers on the Macau side were answered by heavy explosions from the North.

3. The Airport is, according to Portuguese officials, six months ahead of schedule. I was told by members of the Legislative Assembly and the Portuguese JLG that the airport financing had now been about 95% resolved. All that remained was "some fine detail”. Those members of the Legislative Assembly I met were distinctively relaxed about progress in the talks with China. The only anxious debate I encountered was about the civil service. A team from Lisbon in 1990 had proposed that Macau civil servants who held Portuguese passports should decide by the end of 1992 whether or not to go to Portugal. But I gathered this process was still going on and was creating a certain amount of heartsearching.

4. Macau is developing extensively. The reclamation at the edge of the city will transform the place and I thought that much of it looked cramped and uninspiring. But at least the

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