TNAG-0901-FCO40-1111-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 55

SUMMARY OF OBJECTIONS FROM DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1.

Strong objections to a British Overseas Citizenship for people connected with them have been received from

Gibraltar, Hong Kong, and the Falkland Islands. Each has maintained it is a special case in that it is not able to achieve independence in the foreseeable future and that its people should not have a different status from that held by people born, or whose parent was born, in the United Kingdom. The objections have the full support

of the respective Governors and the Governors of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands in particular have themselves argued against a separate citizenship. Specifically:-

a) the Govt and Opposition parties in Gibraltar have pressed for their people to be granted British Citizenship claiming that their links with the United Kingdom are no less strong than those of United Kingdom belongers. They argue that their position vis-à-vis the Spanish Government will be weakened if it appears their links with the United Kingdom are being weakened; moreover, unlike any other dependent territory, they belong to the EEC and have the right of entry into all EEC countries, including the United Kingdom, for work purposes. The Gibraltarians are likely to try to hold HMG to its undertaking in 1976 that "whatever the outcome of the nationality review, no Gibraltarian would as a result of it be any worse off than he is now when

seeking to enter the United Kingdom". The Home Office waived immigration controls on Gibraltarians when the Spaniards imposed restrictions in 1969;

D)

the Legislative and Executive 'Councils in Hong Kong have expressed the fear that because the great majority

/of

CONFIDENTIAL