TNAG-0305-FCO40-341-Use-of-Chinese-as-official-language-in-Hong-Kong-1971 — Page 7

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HDA Clinton Esq CKG GM

Deputy Colonial Secretary MANG KO:G

84)

Hong Kong Department

FOREIGN AND COMMON EALTH OFFICE

LONDON SW1

21 December 1971

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1.

Thank you for your letter of 8 December about the preparation or eplies to Parliamentary questions.

(9) (70) 2.

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I wa sorry if our telegrams 890 and 891 caused you unnecessary inconvenience. The fault was ours in that you could not be expected to know that in the case of questions for written (as opposed to oral) reply which are put down at short notice, up to three days' grace is allowed in replying to such questions,

It was beyon the date on which they are due to be answered. for this reason that in the two telegrams to which you refer we did not ask for your replies to reach us by any specific deadline.

3. The aim is, of course,, to reply to all questions, whether for ritten or oral reply, on the date on which they are due to be list cred; and the extra latitude referred to above applies only when Questions are for written reply and are put down at short notice.

4.. You will no doubt hear the above in mind when dealing with

If on receiving any future telegrams from us of this kind.

any such telegram you consider that it will not be possible (without undue stress) to provide the required information in time, even allowing for the extra days' grace, perhaps you would let us know by telegram: we would then recommend an interim reply on the lines previously agreed.

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E O Laird