TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 35

CONFIDENTIAL

4. Though an explanation on these lines would I hope be sufficient to resist demands for comparable treatment for other dependencies, particularly Hong Kong, it may not be satisfactory for Gibraltar purposes. I am told that the Thomson concession nas acquired psychological importance in Gibtaltar. Gibraltarians might therefore prefer a free-standing concession for Gibraltarians per se to a loose formulation of an EC entitlement. It will be for SED to say whether they thought Gibaltarians could be persuaded that their best interests 10 in accepting à formulation on the lines I have indicated.

5. My understanding is that there is no desire in the FCO to consolidate the Thomson concession as a bonus to Gibraltar.

ly consideration has been addressed more to how we would explain it if for political reasons in Westminster it were regarded as essential to make that concession to avoid more major concessions in nationality terms.

26 March 1981

تھے

W Jones

Nationality and Treaty Department

CONFIDENTIAL