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representative and treat with the contact, but not direct
with Li. The first meeting took place on 27 March (Hong
Kong telegram No. 387). The contact repeated that the
Chinese considered the demands as "token" and had no
intention of trying to bring about a "Macao-type" situation
in Hong Kong. There was some further discussion about the
release of prisoners and Mr. Cater indicated that the
discussions must be two-way, i.e. the British side would have
requests to make such an undertaking as that the local
communist press would be kept under control, that British
nationals in China should be properly treated, and that events
in Hong Kong should be accurately reported by the New China
News Agency.
4. A second meeting took place on 3 April at which the
contact said the Chinese were disappointed at the slowness of
the Hong Kong Government's initial response.
However some of
the urgency had gone out of the situation as the approach had
been made in the first instance because at some unspecified
date in the recent past Chou En-Lai had learned that "a Chinese
army to the North of Hong Kong had been making preparations to
go to the assistance of their patriotic compatriots" and had
thought it necessary to open a dialogue without delay; (nothing
subsequent by from the contact about-
Li had added that after being
more was/heard of the army).
informed of the Hong Kong Government's slowness to respond
Chou En-lai had issued instructions to the local communists
that the struggle with the Hong Kong Government should cease,
that local patriots must be informed "that the enemy is not
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