Bishop demands safeguards for Hong Kong Church

by Jonathan Petre HONG KONG'S large Catholic community fears a crackdown on religious activity in the colony when the Chinese government takes over in 1997, Bishop John Cheng-Chang Wu of Hong Kong has told the Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe.
In a letter to Sir Geoffrey, Bishop Cheng-Chang Wu wrote that in order to "at least lessen these legitimate concerns", it is "essential" that specific safeguard are spelt out in any agreement between the British Government and the Chinese which might emerge from top level talks.
The British Government is in the process of lengthy and delicate negotiations with the Chinese leadership to try and reach an agreement which will assure the continued "stability and prosperity" of Hong Kong after the New Territories Lease expires in thirteen years.
Concern has been expressed over the past few months that the possibility of a Chinese takeover might drive out businessmen and residents of the colony unless a legal agreement is drawn up safeguarding the present rights of the community there.
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong has more than a quarter of a million members, and is .heavily involved in medical and social welfare and education. Ninety per cent of the pupils attending Hong Kong's 313 Catholic schools are nonCatholics.
In his letter, Bishop ChengChang Wu said the Catholic community asks for "no special privileges but only for the opportunity, with appropriate safeguards, to be permitted to continue to dedicate itself to its work for the good of the people of Hong Kong."
In particular the Bishop asked for legally binding guarantees. First, "the right of Catholics in Hong Kong to freedom of worship and belief, which must include the right to maintain links with the Pope and other Catholics worldwide", and second, "the right of nongovernmental organisations such as the Church to go on providing for the educational needs of parents and children in Hong Kong."
The bishop said that although he has been somewhat reassured by statements from both Sir Geoffrey and from a Chinese spokesman, these "verbal assurances" had not dispelled the deep concern.
Local Catholics "cannot be ignorant of what has happened to their fellow-believers, often their relatives and friends, in China since 1949," the bishop added. "They have often been disquieted by recent press reports of long prison sentences handed down to Catholic priests. The current policy for the control of all religions, set out in a Central Party Committee document, is not very reassuring."
The bishops statement was timed to coincide with a debate in Parliament on the future of the colony. Hong Kong was also one of the issues raised at the National People's Congress, China's Parliament, which began on Monday.
The statement concludes by saying that the Catholic Church in Hong Kong will continue to work loyally, "within its sphere of competence", for the progress of society whatever happens after 1997.
A copy of the statement has reached the Foreign Office, and a spokesman there said this week that a reply would be sent to the bishop "within a week or two".