CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 979
OF 23030OZ MARCH 89
INFO PRIORITY HOLYSEE, PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKAI./
064775
MDLIAN 7481
FCO TELNO 16: VATICAN OFFICE IN HONG KONG
1. WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE LINE TAKEN BY PUS DURING THE MEETING WITH THE PRO NUNCIO.
2. THE PRO NUNCIO'S REMARKS OPEN BRACKETS PARAGRAPH 5 OF TUR CLOSE BRACKETS ON FOSTERING THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH IN CHINA, HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ALLAY OUR CONCERNS. WE AGREE THAT THE VATICAN IS BEING SOMEWHAT NAIVE OVER CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. FROM THE HONG KONG POINT OF VIEW THEIR PROPOSALS WOULD, AT THE BEST, BE LIKELY TO LEAD TO SERIOUS EMBARRASSMENT FOR US WITH THE PRC.
3 IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES EVEN THE ATTACHMENT OF A VATICAN REPRESENT- ATIVE TO THE OFFICE OF CARDINAL WU WOULD HAVE TO BE MANGAGED WITH GREAT CARE (ESPECIALLY AS REGARDS PUBLICITY) IF WE WERE TO AVOID SENDING THE WRONG SIGNALS TO THE CHINESE.
4. AS REGARDS THE PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANY TYPE OF REPRESENTAT- IVE, THE POSITION REMAINS AS THE PUS DESCRIBED IT. WITHOUT DIPLOMATIC STATUS, THERE WOULD BE NO LEGAL BASIS FOR ACCORDING POUCH AND CYPHER FACILITIES, AND IT WOULD NOT BE AT ALL EASY TO FIND ANYWAY ROUND THAT.
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