I
LILIA B
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in particular
GIBRALTAR AND CITIZENSHIP OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES (CBDT): ESSENTIAL FACTS
1.
The position has changed very little since LPS
discussed the Gibraltar amendment with the Home
Secretary on 6 August.
2.
The effect of the amendment introduced by the
Exitish Lords in Committee in July would be to make United
Kingdom citizenship available to Gibraltarians on
application. This would breach the Government's
line that citizenship of the British Dependent
Territories (CBDT) is a homogeneous category and
that it is not a second class citizenship. Hong
Kong/would resent the favoured treatment given to
Step 4* another dependency and would renew their campaign
to be more 'British' in status or nomenclature
than CBDT allows.
Other D'T's
J. clud.
British
3. It is likely that an amendment to make the
Falkland Islanders United Kingdom-citizens on a par
with the inhabitants of the Channel Islands or the
Isle of Man which was withdrawn in the Lords in July
will be reintroduced in October, We would not expect this to lead to serious difficulties with the
wilkesboltar Argentine Government. But the Falkland Islands do not
fall within the area of the EC so special pleading
for exception on those grounds is not available.as-
in-the-case of Gibraltar. And to make a major concession
to a second dependency could increase the difficulties
with Hong Kong by arousing suspicions of racial
discrimination.
4. On 8 September Mr Raison, discussing the Hong Kong
aspect with Sir Philip Haddon-Cave the next Chief Secretary of the Colony, said that the Government regarded the Gibraltar amendment as unfortunate. They hoped to reverse it but that could be difficult
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