Mr. Gozden
Mr. Mackligin
26
(14) and
Enclosures.
(18A (18B) d
19
The two drafts beneath this minute arise out of the
following situation.
2. On the 17th May, representatives of the Netherlands
and Belgian Embassies called at the Board of Trade and
presented them with identical Notes. The purpose of these
Notes was to request the Government of Hong Kong to
enter into consultations to reach agreement concerning
restrictions on Hong Kong's export of certain categories
of textiles to the Benelux countries. The Board of Trade
was informed that the Luxembourg Embassy would also have
presented a Note in similar terms had their representative
been available at the time.
3.
Replies to the two Notes were drafted in this Office
in consultation with the other Departments concerned, and
on the 19th May these replies were handed to the
representatives of the Netherlands and Belgian Embassies
who visited the Board of Trade for the purpose. I was
present on this occasion but I was not present on the
occasion referred to in paragraph 2 above.
4.
The Luxembourg Government have now rather belatedly
come forward with their own note which has been transmitted
by their Ambassador to the Foreign Secretary under cover of the letter at (25/E/i) You will see from the Board of
Trade letter to me at (25) that they considered that it would be
appropriate for the Secretary of State for Commonwealth
Affairs to reply to the Luxembourg Ambassador in terms of an
Aide Memoire similar to those which were handed to the
representatives of the Belgian and Nethelmads Embassies on
the 19th May.
5.
I have accordingly drafted a covering letter addressed
to the Luxembourg Ambassador, and an Aide Memoire to be sent
/with it.