Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HONGKONG110
2007-01-12 09:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Hong Kong
Cable title:
VATICAN MEETING ON CHINA POLICY UNLIKELY TO LEAD
how-toVZCZCXRO6507 PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHHK #0110 0120952 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 120952Z JAN 07 FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0105 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 000110
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL HK CH VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN MEETING ON CHINA POLICY UNLIKELY TO LEAD
TO MAJOR POLICY SHIFT
REF: 06 HONG KONG 4288
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 000110
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL HK CH VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN MEETING ON CHINA POLICY UNLIKELY TO LEAD
TO MAJOR POLICY SHIFT
REF: 06 HONG KONG 4288
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen told the press on
January 9 that he would travel to Rome shortly to discuss the
Vatican's China policy. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone will chair the meeting, scheduled for the
latter half of January. According to Zen, the Pope will be
briefed about the meeting afterwards. Zen, who turns 75 (a
bishop's official retirement age) on January 13, has repeated
his desire to retire as bishop of Hong Kong in order to focus
on Sino-Vatican affairs. Zen told the media, "I expect he
(the Pope) will give me a final answer on the occasion of my
birthday and I hope to retire within 2007."
2. (C) Monsignor Eugene Nugent, the papal representative in
Hong Kong, told us on January 12 that he did not expect a
major policy shift to result from the Vatican meeting on
China. While the discussions will help "familiarize" many of
the recently-installed top Vatican officials with the
challenges inherent in the Vatican-PRC relationship, the
meeting is unlikely to bring significant changes in the Holy
See's strategy towards China, opined Nugent. In addition to
Bertone, several other high-level Vatican officials, Zen,
Hong Kong Auxiliary Bishop John Tong, and possibly some
outside experts will join the meeting. Taiwan Cardinal Paul
Shan, whom Nugent had previously mentioned as a participant
(reftel),was in poor health and was not expected to travel
to Rome. Traditionally, the Vatican does not publicize these
meetings or share the nature of its deliberations with the
media. It was a bit unusual, acknowledged Nugent, that Zen
had informed the media of this meeting. Separately, Nugent
said that there was no indication from the Vatican that the
Pope was ready to discuss Zen's retirement as bishop of Hong
Kong on his birthday.
Cunningham
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP AND EAP/CM
NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/12/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL HK CH VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN MEETING ON CHINA POLICY UNLIKELY TO LEAD
TO MAJOR POLICY SHIFT
REF: 06 HONG KONG 4288
Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4 (b,d)
1. (U) Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen told the press on
January 9 that he would travel to Rome shortly to discuss the
Vatican's China policy. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal
Tarcisio Bertone will chair the meeting, scheduled for the
latter half of January. According to Zen, the Pope will be
briefed about the meeting afterwards. Zen, who turns 75 (a
bishop's official retirement age) on January 13, has repeated
his desire to retire as bishop of Hong Kong in order to focus
on Sino-Vatican affairs. Zen told the media, "I expect he
(the Pope) will give me a final answer on the occasion of my
birthday and I hope to retire within 2007."
2. (C) Monsignor Eugene Nugent, the papal representative in
Hong Kong, told us on January 12 that he did not expect a
major policy shift to result from the Vatican meeting on
China. While the discussions will help "familiarize" many of
the recently-installed top Vatican officials with the
challenges inherent in the Vatican-PRC relationship, the
meeting is unlikely to bring significant changes in the Holy
See's strategy towards China, opined Nugent. In addition to
Bertone, several other high-level Vatican officials, Zen,
Hong Kong Auxiliary Bishop John Tong, and possibly some
outside experts will join the meeting. Taiwan Cardinal Paul
Shan, whom Nugent had previously mentioned as a participant
(reftel),was in poor health and was not expected to travel
to Rome. Traditionally, the Vatican does not publicize these
meetings or share the nature of its deliberations with the
media. It was a bit unusual, acknowledged Nugent, that Zen
had informed the media of this meeting. Separately, Nugent
said that there was no indication from the Vatican that the
Pope was ready to discuss Zen's retirement as bishop of Hong
Kong on his birthday.
Cunningham