CONFIDENTIAL
ESSENTIAL FACTS
NATIONALITY (GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT)
1. The House of Lords voted in July for an amendment to give
Gibraltarians, by virtue of their EC connection, the right to
become British Citizens. HMG opposed this amendment.
The LPS
wrote to the Home Secretary on 6 August that the FCO would
favour its reversal.
2.
The amendment has revived interest in Hong Kong in obtaining
a compensatory concession, a change in nomenclature that would
Sir M MacLehose underline the individual's British connection.
told Mr Ridley on 25 August that a reference in the Bill to the British Nationality of CBDTs, if necessary with the stipulation
that they had not right of entry or abode in the UK, would meet
Hong Kong's needs.
3.
Departments are also considering whether we should suggest
to the Home Office acceptance of a British (name of Dependent
Territory) Citizen formula as an optional alternative to CBDT.
There is little sympathy in the Home Office for Hong Kong's case,,
We would also and it would be unwise to raise this too soon.
need to gauge China's reaction as any hint of a separate Hong
Kong citizenship might cause them offence.
4.
Sir P Haddon-Cave saw Mr Raison in the Home Office on
8 September. There was a general discussion about the Nationality
Bill. Mr Raison made clear that the Government would prefer to
reverse the Gibraltar amendment, but that this might be difficult
in parliamentary terms. Sir Philip expressed understanding of HMG's difficulties but emphasised that feeling in Hong Kong among
/Unofficials
CONFIDENTIAL