DSR 11C
4。
Hong Kong have told us that they were given instructions
that no-one should be disturbed overnight for Deskby traffic
unless a reply was required, so when the telegram in question
(with a Deskby for 0700 local time on 21 December) was
received at 0447 hours local time you were not contacted,
but a copy was placed in your folder for collection by your
Duty Clerk first thing in the morning, which was done at
0715 hours.
5. I am sorry that there was evidently a delay at the London
end in sending on your telegram of 19 December to Sir Philip
Moore. It was received well ahead of the Deskby time and,
although distribution of a copy to the Palace was already
underway when Sir Philip contacted Number 10, it should have
arrived well before then. This was an individual error, and
we have drawn the attention of all the staff in the section
concerned to the importance of speedy handling of Deskbys.
6.
We don't think these varied individual incidents justify
a general instruction, but we shall be including a reference
to the importance of proper local handling of Deskby telegrams
in the specific communications, instructions which are sent to
Posts involved in Ministerial tours.
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