TNAG-2946-FCO40-4222-Hong-Kong-nationality-Macao-(Macau)-1993 — Page 17

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Reference.

CONFIDENTIAL

(c) born in Portuguese territory to alien parents who have habitually resided there for at least six years and who are not in the service of their country, provided that the declare that they wish to be Portuguese (according to Lisbon telno 112 of 2 May 1989 this article does not apply to Macao since it is Chinese territory under Portuguese administration);

(d) born in Portuguese territory and have no other nationality.

The Portuguese government may also grant Portuguese nationality to individuals who have resided for six years in Portugal, or Portuguese administered territory, are of good moral character (no criminal record), are economically independent, and can speak Portuguese. The language and residence qualifications can be waived in the case of individuals of Portuguese descent, or who have rendered important services to the Portuguese state. The above information was provided by the Portuguese MFA (Lisbon telno 28 to FCO of 27 January 1989 CONFIDENTIAL). A further qualification was given by the Head of the Macao Information Department in 1990 (BTC Hong Kong telno 149 to FCO of 9 May 1990 CONFIDENTIAL) to the effect that applicants need also to have proof of a cultural connection with Portugal. This condition (and the language requirement) are likely to limit the numbers of ethnic Chinese with appropriate residency qualifications in Macao who seek to apply for (or are granted Portuguese citizenship, and thus a Portuguese passport).

3. The numbers of those who have passports or are eligible vary enormously:

80,000-100,000 Macao residents are eligible or have passports, with possibly up to 130,000 by 1999. BTC telno 149 to FCO of 9 May 1990 based on conversation with Head of Macao Government Information Department.

90,000 qualified for Portuguese passports. Governor of Macao to Head of BTC, BTC telno 149 of 9 May 1990 (figure used in a Written Answer to House of Commons on 3 May 1990).

90,783 the number of Portuguese passports issued in Macao in the years 1984-1988. Lisbon telno 137 to FCO of 18 May 1989

RESTRICTED.

80-90,000 Macao residents had or were entitled to Portuguese nationality, Portuguese MFA and President's Adviser on Macao. Lisbon telno 112 of 2 May 1989 CONFIDENTIAL.

140,000 Macao residents holding Portuguese passports and a further 50,000 might qualify by 1999. Governor of Macao to Senior British Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong. FCO telno 67 to Lisbon of 24 April 1989 CONFIDENTIAL.

The numbers I quoted to you of 100,000 passports to be issued to ethnic Chinese in Macao born before 1981 with a possible further 100,000 by 1999 were based on the RAD General Information paper prepared by Ms Hall. I have not been able to track down the source

of her information.

CONFIDENTIAL