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increased by a certain amount of deliberate misrepresentation by extreme left-wing MPs, and also by misunderstanding of what is at best an extremely complicated Bill, which is not made easier to understand by being called a Nationality Bill when it is really about citizenship and right of entry and abode.
My main concern over the Lords Debate is that all BDTs should be treated alike. There would be a very strong Hong Kong sense of abandonment if, for instance, Gibraltar were singled out for special treatment and given British Citizenship whereas Hong Kong were not. I know some Lords and Members of the Lower House feel very strongly on this point but if the Government were to give way it would have serious repercussions in Hong Kong where it would be pointed to as proof that the UK was indeed preparing to absorb some colonies in preparation for abandoning others such as Hong Kong.
My only other point is that the psychological shock of the Bill has made people sensitive about loss of "Britishness": Ideally, opposite National Status in their passports, they should be described as "British", coupled with "Citizen of UK Dependent Territory". The Home Office do not like this because they do not want to blurr the distinction drawn between CBDTs and British Citizens.
I think this point over legalistic and that nothing would be given away over actual or potential rights of immigration were this conceded. However, if this is impossible - and I would be the first to admit that the Home Office have been responsive in amending the draft Bill so as to conform with the assurances you gave it would be helpful if in the Lords there were expressions of sympathy and understanding for the concern of people in Hong Kong, and assurance given that there were no legal grounds for the anxiety that was evidently felt, and that people in Hong Kong could rest assured that British practice would be found to live
up to the very adequate assurances given by Timothy Raison and Willie Whitelaw in the Commons.
Please do not bother to do anything about this
if you are ill. My main object in writing is simply to assure you that the promises you have given have been honoured - I might add to my own vast relief.