437
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CONFIDENTIAL
445
A200 HOL Λεο
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HKCK 01011 (P982)
GRS 379
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 220100Z
FM FCO 211718Z OCT 81.
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 808 OF 21 OCTOBER.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM LORD PRIVY SEAL
YOUR TELNO 948: NATIONALITY BILL
~**33059.
HICK 34011
23 OCTRI
DESK OFFICIA
INDEX
PA
Tekan
No | £23.00. | Pão 26/12
мо
DESIREET, 2170 VIENETICALCASIDEDA PORTAL ZNAME
PG0
See (444) + 450
1. THE PRINCIPLE OF LORD GEDDES' AMENDMENT WAS ACCEPTED
IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS YESTERDAY. LORD BELSTEAD, WHO STRESSED
HMG'S COMMITMENT TO THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, EXPLAINED THAT
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO EXAMINE THE MOST PRACTICABLE WAY
OF PUTTING THE PROPOSAL INTO LEGISLATIVE EFFECT. HE THOUGHT FOR
DRAFTING REASONS QUOTE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN
UNQUOTE MIGHT HAVE TO BE MADE AN ALTERNATIVE TO CBDT RATHER THAN
A SUBSTITUTE. LORD GEDDES AND OTHERS EXPRESSED SOME DISAPPOINT-
MENT AT THIS. LORD BELSTEAD UNDERTOOK TO LOOK AGAIN AT THE
MATTER.
2.
IN ANY EVENT A GENUINE CHANGE HAS BEEN AGREED TO HELP MEET
HONG KONG'S CONCERNS. I KNOW THAT YOU WILL EMPHASISE THAT THE
GOVERNMENT HAVE GONE A LONG WAY OVER THIS, OPERATING AS THEY HAVE
TO WITHIN THE PARLIAMENTARY CONSTRAINTS.
3. ON THE WHOLE THE DEBATE WENT WELL FROM THE POINT OF VIEW
OF HONG KONG AND THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. KADOORIE'S SPEECH
IN PARTICULAR WAS WARMLY RECEIVED BY THE HOUSE AND COMMENDED BY
LORD BELSTEAD.
4. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT CABINET HAVE NOW DECIDED THAT IT WILL
NOT AFTER ALL BE POLITICALLY PRACTICABLE TO OPPOSE THE GIBRALTAR
AMENDMENT IN THE COMMONS. THIS IS PURELY A MATTER OF VOTING
CALCULATION BY THE WHIPS. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVE THERE WOULD BE
POSITIVE DISADVANTAGE IN RAISING THIS ISSUE AND LOSING ON IT.
IT WOULD SIMPLY REOPEN THE ISSUES RELATED TO THE DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES (INCLUDING THE FALKLAND ISLANDS) AND AT THIS STAGE
IN THE LEGISLATION THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY
COMPENSATORY CONCESSIONS. SUCH A RE-OPENING COULD NOT HELP IN
1
CONFIDENTIAL