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FORMAL BASIS (E.G. A PRIVATE ASSURANCE THAT WE SHALL RESPECT THEIR CYPHERS AND MAILS, RATHER THAN FORMALLY GRANTING IMMUNITIES). OF COURSE, IF THE VATICAN'S STRATEGY IS TO ESTABLISH AN OFFICE WITH CERTAIN IMMUNITIES BEFORE 1997 IN THE HOPE THAT THIS WILL
THEY ARE UNLIKELY ENABLE IT TO RETAIN SUCH IMMUNITIES AFTERWARDS, TO WELCOME SUCH A SOLUTION.
5.
IF IT WERE DECIDED TO ALLOW THE VATICAN TO OPEN AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG, ON WHATEVER BASIS, WE WOULD NEED TO INFORM THE CHINESE
APART FROM THE TECHNICAL RECOGNITION AND BRIEF THEM THOROUGHLY. POINTS, WE WOULD NEED TO BEAR IN MIND THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY SOME CHINESE SPOKESMEN THAT THE HONG KONG CHURCHES SHOULD NOT BECOME A BASE FOR INTERFERENCE IN PRC RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS GENERALLY AFTER 1997. THE MISSION TO THE HOLY SEE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE VATICAN THAT WE WOULD BE DOING THIS, AND ALSO FIND OUT IN WHAT TERMS AND HOW THE VATICAN INTENDED TO MAKE THEIR OWN APPROACH TO THE CHINESE. IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT THE TWO APPROACHES WERE CONSISTENT AND, FOR PREFERENCE, THAT OURS WAS MADE FIRST.
BAILES
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
60
LIMITED
PROTOCOL
WED
HKD
FED
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
60
NEWS
INFO
MR HERVEY MR RATFORD
MR MUNRO
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