TNAG-2598-FCO40-3786-Appointment-of-Chris-Patten-as-new-Governor-of-Hong-Kong--Ap-1992 — Page 98

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 783

OF 061135Z MARCH 89

INFO ROUITNE PEKING, HOLY SEE

CONFIDENTIAL

A. 1.1 HKIVATICAN

004717

MDLIAN 2664

PEKING TELNO 310: VATICAN OFFICE IN HONG KONG

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1 I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT SETTING UP A VATICAN OFFICE WITHOUT PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IS REALLY AN OPTION. FIRST A PRIVATE ASSURANCE TO RESPECT CYPHERS AND MAIL IS NOT THAT SIMPLE. IT WOULD HAVE NO/NO LEGAL BASIS. IF, AS IS LIKELY, NEWS OF THE ASSURANCE LEAKED, THERE WOULD BE PRESSURE FOR SIMILAR SPECIAL TREATMENT FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS. SECOND, A VATICAN OFFICE EITHER WOULD, OR WOULD NOT, BE ON THE LIST OF CONSULAR POSTS AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED REPRESENTATIVES. IF IT IS ON THE OFFICIAL LIST THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE ITS STATUS IN 1997 UNLESS, BY THEN, CHINA AND THE VATICAN HAVE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. IF IT IS NOT ON THE LIST, THEN WE ARE THINKING ONLY OF AN INFORMAL OFFICE. QUESTIONS OF PRIVILEGES WOULD NOT ARISE: NOR SHOULD THERE BE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CHINESE.

2. IN THE YEARS BEFORE 1997 IT IS FOR US TO DECIDE WHAT OFFICIAL OFFICES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED HERE, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN CONTINUE AFTER REVERSION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY. I WOULD NOT BE AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VATICAN OFFICE IF THERE WAS SOME CLEAR ADVANTAGE TO HONG KONG. BUT AT PRESENT I CAN SEE NO ADVANTAGE, AND ONLY RISK, IN ALLOWING HONG KONG TO BE DRAGGED INTO THE INTRICACIES OF DIPLOMATIC MANOEUVERING BETWEEN PEKING AND THE VATICAN, INVOLVING AS THESE DO, RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN AND WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA.

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3 MY PREFERENCE THEREFORE REMAINS THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE MY TELNO 662, IE TO OFFER THE VATICAN, IF THEY REQUIRE IT, SOME REINFORCEMENT OF CARDINAL WU'S OFFICE WITHC ANY TITLE INDICATING SPECIAL REPRESENTATION. IN PRACTICE THE NEED FOR SUCH REINFORCEMENT MAY ALREADY HAVE RECEDED GIVEN THE DECREASED LIKELIHOOD THAT THE POPE WILL VISIT HONG KONG THIS AUTUMN, REPORTED IN BROADLEY'S TELELETTER TO WESTERN EUROPEAN DEPARTMENT OF 28 FEBRUARY.

WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL