1.
00 HONG KONG DESK BY 250100Z
GRS 299
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 250100Z
FM FCO 241720Z NOV 82
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
HKG D
2.36
NO DISTRIBUTION
38148
A
1
HKK 340/1
No
24/1 AF201u
TELEGRAM NUMBER 993 OF 24 NOVEMBER
STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
MIPT.
1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PERSONAL MESSAGE TO YOU FROM LORD
MACLEHOSE:
BEGINS:
1. ON MONDAY LADY VICKERS WILL MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE
BRITISH NATIONALITY (FALKLAND ISLANDS) AMENDMENT BILL. IT
WOULD GIVE FALKLAND ISLANDERS SIMILAR TREATMENT TO GIBRALTAR.
2. SHE HAS ASKED FOR MY SUPPORT. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION I AM
PREPARED TO INTERVENE BRIEFLY, WITHOUT COMMENTING ON THE
SUBSTANCE, TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
I. SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL THAT THE POSITION OF HONG KONG IS AN
OBSTACLE TO THIS BILL.
II. HONG KONG PEOPLE RESENTED THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL
WITH ITS DOUBLE-LOCKING AGAINST THEM OF THE DOOR TO THE
UK AND THE FORCED CHANGE IN THE NOMENCLATURE OF THEIR
CITIZENSHIP.
III. IF THE BILL IS AMENDED IN FAVOUR OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS,
AND NOT FOR OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES THERE WILL BE
FURTHER RESENTMENT AND SOME CYNICAL COMMENT.
IV. NEVERTHELESS I DO NOT THINK THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD
WISH THEIR FEELINGS USED AS AN ARGUMENT TO DENY THESE
PROPOSED BENEFITS TO FALKLAND ISLANDERS.
V. MOREOVER THEY WOULD REALISE THAT SINCE ONLY ABOUT 400
PERSONS WOULD BE INVOLVED, THE TWO CASES ARE NOT
COMPARABLE.
VI. THEREFORE I FEEL THE BILL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON ITS
MERITS, WITHOUT REGARD TO HONG KONG.
VII. NATURALLY I WELCOME ACTION BY HMG TO DISCHARGE ITS
1
CONFIDENTIAL
Banking