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EPHEMERAL
CONFIDENTIAL
SIM: ADAMS Munte.
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cc Mr Adams
Mr Jones, NTD
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RECEVED HA POMSTRY RO. 51 2 1 JUL 1981
DESK OFFICER
PA
RESTRY
Action Taken
RCS 27/7.
NATIONALITY BILL:
1.
GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT
I attach the contingency submission which you requested. As you see, it suggests that the Government will probably not take a decision on whether or not to reverse the amendment until after the recess and it therefore concludes that it would not be practicable at present to put a fall-back position to the Home Office, who would not in any case give a quick reply. The recommendation is therefore for a holding message to the Dependent Territories.
2.
I understand that Mr Luce has said that he would prefer to wait until the outcome of the Gibraltar amendment in the Lords is known before he considers this question. However, you may nevertheless think it urgent enough to put to him earlier.
Indeed.
fee below
Shuchuade
WTA
17 July 1981
pp.
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
I agree with the text of the draft letter. I have, however, two points on procedure:-
(a) Mr. Hilary of the Home Office told Mr. Jones last night
that he thought his Ministers would welcome such a letter in advance of the discussion of the Gibraltar amendment in the Lords (Gibraltar will now probably be taken on Wednesday next, but it might still be on Tuesday);
(b)
the letter might best go to Lord Belstead (who is coordinating the Government position in the Lords) with a copy to Mr. Raison, who is very tied up with Mr. Heseltine on the examination of the post-riot situation in Liverpool etc.
2. I think we should consider the content of a possible fall-back concession to Hong Kong later.
17 July 1981
James
fes
W.J. Adams
CONFIDENTIAL
c.c. Mr. Clift, HKGD Mr. Jones, NTD
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