TNAG-2598-FCO40-3786-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 84

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Reference

Catholic organisation which was renounced the authority of the Pope) attacked the Vatican's appointment of the dissident Bishop Gong Pinmei as Cardinal in June 1981: "The recently announced appointment by the Roman curia of Gong Pinmei as cardinal violated the principle of independence, self-reliance and self-administration of Chinese Catholicism and interfered in Chinese internal affairs. We can never accept this."

4. Despite these difficulties, China and the Vatican have been growing closer in recent years and there have been reports from time to time that the two sides were approaching the establishment of diplomatic relations. I mentioned to you that there had been a very recent press cutting on this subject (which I cannot at the the moment trace). The essence, as far as I recall, was that the Vatican was considering sending a Nuncio to China, but were insisting that he had to be more than a mere diplomatic representative but should be able to involve himself in matters relating to the Catholic Church in China. The representation on Taiwan would be reduced to apostolic delegate or something like

that.

5.

Bishop Wu Cheng-chung of Hong Kong (see paragraph 1 above) was made a cardinal in mid 1988. This appointment was greeted by Chinese (mainland) church officials with cautious optimism. The patriotic Catholic Church described him as "an old friend" of the Chinese church, and a "brother in Catholicism". He was born in Guangdong, trained in Hong Kong and served for a considerable time as a pastor in Taiwan. He has visited both Taiwan and the mainland in recent years.

RF Wye

Far Eastern Section

Research & Analysis Dept

OAB 2/125 210 6219/6216

19 May 1992

CONFIDENTIAL