he Argentine insistence that the only outcome
acceptable was one which recognised Argentine
sovereignty, in disregard of the clearly and freely
expressed wishes of the Falkland Islanders themselves.
The vast majority of the Islanders (some 1400 out of
a total of about 1800) already have the right of
abode in the United Kingdom and will acquire British
Citizenship by right when the new Nationality Act
comes into force, though their clear preference has
been to remain on the Falkland Islands under British
Thus the allegation that we 'deliberately
delayed a settlement of the Falklands dispute with
Argentina' until 'some way could be found to make
the tiresome inhabitants stop insisting on their
right to stay British' is without foundation.
administration.
Similarly the assertion that we have been 'particularly
anxious to get rid of the Falklands, Gibraltar and
Hong Kong' is unsubstantiated.
Taking Hong Kong's
case, with which the article is particularly
concerned, the Chinese, with whom we enjoy very good
relations, have always taken the view that Hong Kong
is a legacy of history to be solved when the time
is ripe by peaceful negotiation.
wish to see its prosperity and stability maintained
Both we and they
and, as British Ministers have stated publicly,
Britain's commitment to Hong Kong and its people
remains undiminished.
The article insinuates that the British Nationality
Act 1981 will take away rights from the residents of
British Dependent Territories. But in fact the Act
introduces no change in their present immigration
/status
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