CONFIDENTIAL
circles that Britain was a possible haven for those Hong Kong Chinese who might want to leave if the territory reverted to China. He feared that these groups, which are influential, would make a public issues of this if they were given a fright about it.
b. Gibraltar
The proposed change is an issue important and emotive enough to unite all parties against the proposals. It could provoke strong and intractable industrial and political resistance against what would be presented as evidence that HMG intended to break the Colony's link with Britain and drive it into the arms of Spain. We should have to make clear to the Gibraltarians that their freedom of access to the United Kingdom would not be diminished. Dr Summerskill has agreed to the continuance of the existing administrative facility for unrestricted entry into this country. The Governor of Gibraltar advised in strong terms, when consulted, that the creation of a British Overseas Citizenship was un- likely to be received in Gibraltar any more favourably than it would be elsewhere. His view was that it would create a furore, with the possibility that the IWBP would seize on it as evidence of HMG's intention to throw overboard the 1969 Constitutional link with Britain and all that it stands for. Some Gibraltarians would regard it as indicating, if not a sell-out, at least an intention of driving Gibraltar towards association/integration with Spain.
c. Falkland Islands
The proposals would cause dep resentment. It is HMG's policy to encourage links between the Islands and Argentina, but most Islanders and their supporters in London suspect HMG of wishing to encourage "creeping integration". The nationality proposals would provide them with another and major grievance which they and their supporters would be likely to exploit. A.
2
/Parliamentary