TNAG-1010-FCO40-1260-Handling-of-Parliamentary-business-concerning-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 9

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Foreign and Commonwealth Office London SW1A 2AH

AKI 0121l

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 O MAY 1981

I F C MacPherson Esq JP

Director of Administration and

Management Services Administration Branch Government Secretariat HONG KONG

Telephone 01-

DESK OFF 20 INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

Your feference

$8.50

Our reference

Date

6 May 1981

2

see 3

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

1. We spoke about the need to deal with PQs speedily when I was in Hong Kong.

2.

I should be grateful if you would look at the way our Telegram Number 434 was handled. In it we asked for a reply by 0800Z on 6 May. This was because the question was a priority written one put down for answer today. We should have got our draft reply out of the department yesterday afternoon but got special dispensation until as early as possible this morning.

3. When I got into the Office at 9.30 a.m., the telegram had not arrived. This is not surprising since it was sent at 0850Z for deskby 0930Z, i.e. 10.30 a.m. British Summer Time.

With the tight limits in which we often have to work on PQs this sort of delay can be rather galling, particularly as the work involved at the Hong Kong end was minimal.

4.

I should be most grateful if you would re-emphasise to those involved the importance of meeting our deadlines.

5.

P J Williamson

Hong Kong and General Department

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