3.
a.
What I would sugest therefore is-
the Government make it known well before the
debate on the Gibralt ir amendment in, the Lords that they intend to oppose it, and preferably that they say or imply that if the vote were to go against them in Committee they would seek to reverse it;
b. if the vote does go against them in Committee the Government should immediately make it clear that this is not the end of the story and that their view remains unshakable that all dependenices should be treated alike; and
C.
failing b. urgent consideration will need to be given to changes/to placate the other dependencies, particularly Hong Kong, who will certainly erupt from their present state of watchful unease if Gibraltar won such a major concession. To have something to offer quickly could preempt even greater demands.
/for example in nomenclature and perhaps admini- strative rather than in the Bill,
CONFIDENTIAL