MO 3/18D
DD...
CONFIDENTIAL
SECRETARY
OF STATE
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE WHITEHALL LONDON SW1 2HB
HKD
7 Ps/Mr Mande Mr. McLaren Define
Legal Advisers
AW
February 1990 283
TELEPHONE 01-2018 9000-
DIRECT DIALLING 01-218 211
has 360/13
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
2 0 JUL 1990
VERY
GURKHA LEGISLATION
BA
Thank you for your letter of 8th February in response to mine of 22nd January. Given that you are now not proposing to amend the British Nationality Act 1981 in the Hong Kong Bill, I accept that
there is no prospect of including in it the amendments dealing with
the Gurkhas.
As you know, Geoffrey Howe shares my concerns about making
these amendments in the Armed Forces Bill and has proposed that the
QL secretariat sets in hand further work on how to minimise the
difficulties. I understand that First Parliamentary Counsel has already advised that the amendments to Immigration Rules should not
be made in primary legislation but by the established procedure.
The other amendments to the Immigration Rules which I understand
you will probably be making next year would provide a suitable opportunity for this.
I am copying this letter to the Prime Minister, other OD
colleagues and Tim Renton, and to Sir Robin Butler.
The Rt Hon David Waddington MP
CONFIDENTIAL
Tom King