DAILY CATHOLIC     TUESDAY     August 10, 1999     vol. 10, no. 149

NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

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CHINA TELLS POPE NOT WELCOME IN HONG KONG

          HONG KONG (CWNews.com) - Communist China has told Pope John Paul II that he will not be welcome to visit Hong Kong later this year when he visits Asia, according to the Archdiocese of Hong Kong on Monday.

          The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Vatican's diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, which China sees as a breakaway province, was the reason behind the refusal. Archdiocesan officials said they were told several weeks ago that the Holy Father would not be coming, but no reason was given.

          Mary Seung, spokesman for the archdiocese, said the lack of formal relations with Beijing, which has controlled Hong Kong's foreign affairs since regaining sovereignty in 1997, is at the root of the problem. The Vatican refused to comment on the report. "We have no comment. We don't give out any information until two months ahead of a trip and the Pope's visit to Asia is planned for the end of the year," a Vatican spokesman said.


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August 10, 1999       volume 10, no. 149
NEWS & VIEWS

DAILY CATHOLIC

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