TNAG-0378-FCO40-424-UK-policy-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-after-1997-1973 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMENTS ON THE SPANISH GOVERNMEIPPLES ITOT JALS FOR A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION OF THE GIBRALTAR PROBLEM

1. Whatever the merits or demerits of the individual

clements in the proposals which have been put forward by

the Spanish Covernment, they are as a whole unacceptable

for the following main reasons:

(i) They involve the (immediate) transfer of sovercy

from Britain to Spain. In present circumstances

and as envisaged in the proposals this is unaccop-

table to Gibraltarian opinion (see paragraphı 2).

The Gibraltarians are not convinced that reliable

safeguards of the rights to be guaranteed to them

could be maintained once sovereignty had been

transferred.

(ii) No doubt many of the proposals could be regarded

as an inevitable consequence of Spanish

sovereignty; however they would involve changes in

Gibraltar's situation and institutions, which

Gibraltarians would regard as disadvantageous for

a variety of quite legitimate reasons. The status

of Spanish as the only official language, for

example, would raise emotional and symbolic

issues. But others, such as the proposals on

nationality and personnel, could present a real

threat to the cohesion and special identity of

the Gibraltarian people.

(ii) The proposals do not, in any case, give absolute guarantees that Gibraltarian freedoms and insti-

tutions will continue to operate as at present

(see, for example, paragraphs 5-9).

2. It is necessary for any proposals for a settlement to meet with Gibraltarian and British Parliamentary approval (and the second is unlikely to be forthcoming

CONFIDENTIAL

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