Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in January cancelled a private audience he had requested with Pope Benedict - a meeting that would have been an extremely rare top-level contact between China and the Vatican - because he wanted to remain in Hong Kong through a testing period in local politics, according to a Catholic Church official with knowledge of the arrangements.
Tsang, a devout Catholic, was scheduled to meet Pope Benedict at the Vatican on January 27 for a dialogue and blessing, the official said.
The proposed meeting, which would have lasted some 15 minutes, surprised some observers at a time when there has been minimal progress in negotiations between Beijing and the Vatican on resuming diplomatic ties and on other long-standing differences over restrictions on freedom of worship on the mainland.
However, Tsang cancelled at the last minute when three lawmakers from the League of Social Democrats and two from the Civic Party resigned to force by-elections they argue will serve as a de facto referendum on universal suffrage.
Neither the Chief Executive's Office nor the Vatican would comment on the proposed meeting.
'It is not uncommon for leaders anywhere in the world to face unforeseen political problems back home and [be unable to] travel,' the Catholic Church official said. 'If he asks for a meeting again, I am sure there should be no reason why the Holy Father would not receive him.'
