ぐ
Mr Adams
APS/Lord Trefgarne
сс
PS/LPS
Mr Donald
HKGD
SED
SAMD
CONFIDENTIAL
370A
Plas illo
Includes
HKK 34011
EVED IN SAOUSTRY NO. 51
-
- 1 OCT 1981
DESK OFFICER
DEX
PA
V
Action Take!
Mr. McQuade
Mr. Williamson J28.9
In Bhai Ji
سا
our amendments
D 25/9
Erlin
pa
28/9
See (372
373
WIAD
NATIONALITY BILL:
1.
Tels despatched
GIBRALTAR, HONG KONG AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
When the Lord Privy Seal and Lord Trefgarne discussed the Gibraltar amendment with Mr Whitelaw and Home Office Ministers on 17 September it was decided that, as there was no prospect of reversing the amendment in the Lords, substantive action should be reserved for the Commons. It was further agreed that the spokesman in the Lords would meanwhile make clear the Government's continuing opposition to the concession, and everything possible would be done to avoid a similar concession to the Falkland Islands. No firm decision was taken on that occasion on how to meet the concerns of other dependent territories if the Gibraltar amendment stands, and in particular how to deal with any Hong Kong amendment that might be put forward in the Lords at Report Stage. We should now give this consideration
2.
The Hong Kong Government and particularly the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO), have taken a keen and critical interest in the Nationality Bill from the publication of the Green Paper. They would much prefer to remain Citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies but with some reluctance had accepted that they would become Citizens of the British Dependent Territories. The passing of the Gibraltar amendment has, however, revived their concern. They are not asking for equivalent rights to those expected by Gibraltar; in particular, they do not demand a right of entry to the United Kingdom. They do not look to the Nationality Bill to provide them with an escape route in the unlikely event of a Chinese take-over. But given the political uncertainty hanging over Hong Kong and the feeling, albeit unjustified, that HMG would like to distance themselves from the Territory, what does interest people there is a clearer expression in the Bill of the relationship between the Dependent Territories and the United Kingdom, that is of their Britishness.
3. We, for our part are unwilling to consider any amendment to the Bill, which, during the rest of this century, could be read
/as
CONFIDENTIAL