Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HONGKONG1278
2007-05-10 09:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:
LABOR DAY WITH THE PLA - MACAU STYLE
how-toVZCZCXRO1005 PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHHK #1278 1300945 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 100945Z MAY 07 FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1588 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001278
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
DEPT FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2032
TAGS: MARR PREL SOCI CH HK MC
SUBJECT: LABOR DAY WITH THE PLA - MACAU STYLE
REF: A. HONG KONG 001198
B. HONG KONG 001203
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet; Reasons 1.4(b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 001278
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
DEPT FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2032
TAGS: MARR PREL SOCI CH HK MC
SUBJECT: LABOR DAY WITH THE PLA - MACAU STYLE
REF: A. HONG KONG 001198
B. HONG KONG 001203
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet; Reasons 1.4(b, d)
1. (U) Similar to the display on May 1 in Hong Kong (see
reftel a),the People's Liberation Army (PLA) held an "open
day" in Macau at its compound on Taipa Island. The "Macau
Post Daily" reported that 2,500 residents visited the
barracks on Labor Day and watched a flag raising ceremony and
military/martial arts performances by the garrison personnel.
The paper also reported that "visitors could 'test' military
hardware, such as weapons and vehicles." Shotguns, machine
guns, and anti-tank rockets were also on display, noted the
"Macau Daily News." The Museum of Military History and
various working and training facilities were open to
visitors, as well. The "Macau Post Daily" editorialized that
local residents saw the presence of the PLA in Macau as a
stabilizing force for society. (Note: The "Macau Post
Daily" is the only English-language newspaper in Macau and it
is published in hardcopy only. End note.)
2. (C) Comment: Echoing our comments in reftel b, the Macau
government is already straining to keep pace with various
social tensions arising from rapid development, a
gambling-based economy often alleged to be rife with
organized crime, and massive inflows of tourists and visitors
trying to capitalize on the quaint but sometimes quavering
society there. In contrast to Hong Kong where the PLA is
sometimes viewed with suspicion, many Macanese believe that
the PLA's presence has helped prevent a return to the
gangland violence of the 1990s and is a stabilizing factor in
the MSAR. End comment.
Cunningham
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
DEPT FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/11/2032
TAGS: MARR PREL SOCI CH HK MC
SUBJECT: LABOR DAY WITH THE PLA - MACAU STYLE
REF: A. HONG KONG 001198
B. HONG KONG 001203
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet; Reasons 1.4(b, d)
1. (U) Similar to the display on May 1 in Hong Kong (see
reftel a),the People's Liberation Army (PLA) held an "open
day" in Macau at its compound on Taipa Island. The "Macau
Post Daily" reported that 2,500 residents visited the
barracks on Labor Day and watched a flag raising ceremony and
military/martial arts performances by the garrison personnel.
The paper also reported that "visitors could 'test' military
hardware, such as weapons and vehicles." Shotguns, machine
guns, and anti-tank rockets were also on display, noted the
"Macau Daily News." The Museum of Military History and
various working and training facilities were open to
visitors, as well. The "Macau Post Daily" editorialized that
local residents saw the presence of the PLA in Macau as a
stabilizing force for society. (Note: The "Macau Post
Daily" is the only English-language newspaper in Macau and it
is published in hardcopy only. End note.)
2. (C) Comment: Echoing our comments in reftel b, the Macau
government is already straining to keep pace with various
social tensions arising from rapid development, a
gambling-based economy often alleged to be rife with
organized crime, and massive inflows of tourists and visitors
trying to capitalize on the quaint but sometimes quavering
society there. In contrast to Hong Kong where the PLA is
sometimes viewed with suspicion, many Macanese believe that
the PLA's presence has helped prevent a return to the
gangland violence of the 1990s and is a stabilizing factor in
the MSAR. End comment.
Cunningham