OO HONG KONG
GRS 335
ник у ног
REINED IN APNGTRY RO. 51 2 4 JUL 1981
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
9242
REGISTRY Action Taken.
252x12
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 231300Z JUL 81
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 615 OF 23 JULY.
FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM DONALD
YOUR TELNO 695:
(319
BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
320
OF COPY
20555 - 2
1.
THE AMENDMENT VOTED IN THE LORDS LAST NIGHT OCCURRED
DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE. THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE REPORT
STAGE AND THE THIRD READING IN THE LORDS BUT THIS VILL NOT
HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY RECESS ENDS ON 3 OCTOBER.
THE COMMONS RESUME BUSINESS ON 19 OCTOBER AND PROROGATION HAS BEEN
FIXED FOR 30 OCTOBER.
2.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBILITIES. THE GIBRALTAR
AMENDMENT COULD BE REVERSED AT THE REPORT STAGE IN THE
LORDS. ALTERNATIVELY THE BILL COULD GO BACK TO THE COMMONS
WITH ITS PRESENT AMENDMENT. THE BILL CANNOT BECOME LAW BEFORE
THE COMMONS HAVE CONSIDERED ANY LORDS' AMENDMENTS TO IT AND
IF AMENDMENTS ARE REJECTED BY THE COMMONS, THE BILL WOULD
HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LORDS. THERE IS OF COURSE THE TIME PROBLEM.
3.
THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY MADE CLEAR THEIR OPPOSITION TO
VARIOUS AMENDMENTS ON GIBRALTAR BOTH IN THE LORDS AND COMMONS ON
THE GROUNDS THAT ALL THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES SHOULD BE TREATED
IN THE SAME WAY.
4.
MINISTERS HAVE NOT YET DECIDED HOW TO PLAY THE HAND
FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S EVENTS. A DECISION MAY WELL NOT BE TAKEN
FOR SOME TIME. THERE MUST NOW BE A PERIOD OF CALM DELIBERATION
AND IT IS IMPORTANT AT THIS STAGE THAT YOU SHOULD STRONGLY
DISCOURAGE UMELCO FROM PUTTING FORWARD EXTREME DEMANDS INTO WHICH
THE PROPOSERS MIGHT BECOME LOCKED.
1
CONFIDENTIAL