TNAG-0903-FCO40-1113-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-British-nationality-1979 — Page 104

H

་

1.

AQU

FR GIBRALTAR

TO FCO LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER CAT A

TO PRIORITY FCO

TEL NO PERSONAL 42 OF 9 AUGUST

YOUR TELNO 51 TO ANGUILLA:

NATIONALITY LAW

S7

Nick 340/1

ра

RECEIVED IN REGISTRYING. 51 14 AUG 1979

NT.D.

INDEX

Mr Fiss

M.V.D)

SED HKGDV

Despite H.D. dejections I much favour "B. tisí

Citizen of Gibraltar.

A. itt HO

if necessary

L

Critics Citizen of Hey Kong'

must have another macheng

to thrush that

not give . t the

1. AS THE DEPARTMENT KNOWS, THERE WILL BE STRONG FEELINGS IN GIBRALTAR AGAINST THE WITHDRAWAL OF CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY NEW DESIGNATION IS FELT TO EMPHASISE THE QUOTE SECOND CLASS STATUS UNQUOTE WHICH GIBRALTARIANS WILL CONSIDER IS INHERENT IN THE CHANGE, THE DROPPING OF THE TERM QUOTE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN UNQUOTE FOR THOSE CONNECTED WITH GIBRALTAR AND WITH RIGHT OF ABODE HERE WILL BE WELCOME. THE TERY QUOTE BRITISH OVERSEAS CITIZEN UNQUOTE WAS SEEN AS PARTICULARLY OBJECTIONABLE.

2. 1 SEC GENERAL OBJECTICH TO PLACING ALL PERSONS WITH CONNECTIONS WITH EXISTING DEPENDENT TERRITORIES AND THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN ONE OF THEM IN A SINGLE TGE I UUDYMUHKSTILL LEAVES THE PROBLEM THAT IN FACT THOSE WITH A RIGHT OF ABODE IN, SAY, HONG KONG DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF ABODE IN APY OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORY. A GENERIC DESCRIPTION IS THEREFORE CURELY DEST AVOIDED. I WROTE TO DAUNT ON 7 AUGUST, BEFORE RECLIPT OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, TO SUCGEOT THAT THE LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES WOULD BE MORE ACCEPTABLE IF THE WORD QUOTE GIBRALTAR UNQUOTE COULD BE WORKED INTO THE NEW TITLE FOR GIBRALTAR BELONGERS. AS WE ARE CONCERNED ESSENTIALLY WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE OF GIBRALTAR THEMSELVES WILL FEEL, IT IS NOT EASY TO SAY WITHOUT CONSULTATION WHAT TITLE THEY WOULD PREFER, NEVERTHELESS, MY ASSESSMENT OF THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES PUT FORWARD IN YOUR TELNO 50 TO ANGUILLA IS AS FOLLOWS:

(A)

(B)

(C)

THE TITLE BRITISH COLONIAL CITIZEN WOULD BE GENERALLY RESENTED BRITISH CITIZER OF THE DEPENDENT TERRITORY OF GIBRALTAR WOULD DE MUCH BETTER, TO GIBRALTARIANS IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE A REASONABLE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR STATUS, AND IT WOULD ALSO INCIDENTALLY ACCORD WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF GIBRALTAR WHICH WE HAVE ADOPTED IN ORDER TO AVOID GIVING OFFENCE TO SPAIN AT WILTON PARK CONFERENCES)

2.G.

BRITISH CITIZEN OF GIBRALTAR EXPRESSES THE SAME THING MORE

CONFIDENTIAL

/ BRIEFLY,

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