TNAG-1081-FCO40-1331-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 71

(b)

SECRET

—

2

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

of the dependent territories specified in

Schedule 6",

At the same time, Mr. Ivor Stanbrook, a

Conservative back-bencher on the Standing Committee, has proposed an amendment which would make Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands

and St. Helena a part of the UK.

It might therefore be that the whole

question of citizenship of the dependent territories will come up for debate in

Committee in any case. In view of this, the amendment proposed by Hong Kong may not be totally out of the question

+

YE should therefore push this amendment as far as it would go, using Sir S.Y. Chung's

letter to Lord Carrington, the Lyon

amendments and the Stanbrook amendment as

a lever.

YE should also ask for an assessment of

the chances of success of the Stanbrook

amendment. If there is any likelihood at

all of the amendment being passed by the

Committee, and depending on the reaction

to the Hong Kong amendment, YE should seek

to have a further amendment moved to add

"Hong Kong" to the Stanbrook amendment.

Right of Abode in the UK

(Paras.

(i)

(ii)

9-11 and Annex B of Aide Memoire)

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to preserve the existing position whereby a Hong Kong CUKC acquires the right of abode in the UK after 5 years' residence

there.

YE should stress that Unofficials have been

persuaded to accept registration as a procedural necessity (instead of straight-