Building Experimental Bridge to China

Jones, Arthur, National Catholic Reporter

HONG KONG -- The four had flown into Gweizhou, China, a poor mountain region far north of their affluent, comfortable Hong Kong. Their accommodation was a modest guest house and their reception committee had just arrived.

As the committee members were introduced, Peter Cheung and his three colleagues from the Catholic Institute for Religion in Society exchanged business cards. Then Cheung read to his astonishment that the secretary-general of the welcoming voluntary organization, the Provincial Committee Concerned for Poor and Marginalized Minority Tribes, was also the secretary-general of the United Front Department of the local Communist Party. The United Front is the party's propaganda arm. And the volunteer group's vice president was the front's local vice president.

"Hey," said Cheung to himself, "this is supposed to be a voluntary organization." The four Hong Kong visitors, Cheung later told NCR, considered the situation they were in and asked each other: "Are we going to continue …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Building Experimental Bridge to China. Contributors: Jones, Arthur - Author. Magazine title: National Catholic Reporter. Volume: 32. Issue: 44 Publication date: October 18, 1996. Page number: 10. © 2009 National Catholic Reporter. COPYRIGHT 1996 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.