HL Deb 19 July 1989 vol 510 c901WA
Lord Borthwick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they were consulted before the Portuguese Government promised the inhabitants of Macao European passports.

Lord Trefgarne

No. The Portuguese Government have not promised all the inhabitants of Macao European passports. According to Portuguese nationality laws, only those born in a Portuguese territory of Portuguese parents have nationality rights, including the right of abode in Portugal. The 1981 Portuguese Nationality Act ended the automatic right of nationality to children born of non-Portuguese in Macao.

Earlier this year, the Portuguese started the issue of common EC format passports to Portuguese nationals. This does not reflect any change in their nationality status.