CONFIDENTIAL
Telegraph ich offer
port help
Hong Ko
lana Sh- Hong!
WOULD NOT GIVE IN TO THE PRESSURES OF THE PATRIOTIC CHURCH VATICAN WOULD WISH TO FOSTER THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH, AND SEE AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG AS HELPFUL TO THIS END. AS FOR RELATIONS WITH THE CHINESE, THE DOWNGRADING OF THE VATICAN REPRESENTATIVE IN TAIWAN TO CHARGE HAD BEEN A SIGNAL IN WHICH CLAIMED THE CHINESE HAD SHOWN INTEREST. BUT THE KEY POINT WOULD BE CHINESE RECOGNITION OF THE FREEDOM OF THE CHURCH, AND ACCEPTANCE THAT A SPIRITUAL LOYALTY TO ROME DID NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY A DISLOYALTY TO CHINA.
COMMENT
6.
WE AGREE THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN NAIVETY IN THE VATICAN APPRECIATION OF CHINESE SENSITIVITIES. THIS IS NOT FERTILE GROUND FOR THE NURTURING OF A RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN THE VATICAN AND PEKING. GIVEN THE VATICAN APPROACH THERE IS EVERY CHANCE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD VIEW ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT OFFICE IN HONG KONG WITH SUSPICION, AND THAT THIS WOULD COMPLICATE OUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. UNTIL THERE IS EVIDENCE OF REAL PROGRESS IN SINO-VATICAN RELATIONS (AND THE PUS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN OUR BEING KEPT INFORMED ON THIS), WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUGGEST TO THE VATICAN THAT THEY SHOULD GO NO FURTHER THAN ATTACH A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN HONG KONG.
HOWE
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MAIN
59
LIMITED
HKD
WED
FED
PROTOCOL
NEWS
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DISTRIBUTION
59
INFO
PS/PUS
MR HERNE
MR RATFORD
MR TOMKYS
PAGE
2
CONFIDENTIAL
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