TNAG-1082-FCO40-1332-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 49

CONFIDENTIAL

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speak as agreed to the Governor: and in public statements in Hong Kong would use the form of words already agreed between FCO and Home Office officials.

5. Mr Raison said that he was in touch with the Oppostion about when the Government's amendments to Part 1 of the Bill should be debated. If Mr Hattersley's suggestions were followed, they were likely to come up on Tuesday, 31 March. Lord Carrington was not due to leave Hong Kong until the morning of Wednesday, 1 April. He was concerned that remarks made in the House of Commons might place Lord Carrington in an awkward situation in Hong Kong. Lord Carrington said that he would marginally prefer the debate to be delayed until after his departure from Hong Kong, but did not insist on this if it gave rise to difficulties.

6. There was a brief discussion about other aspects of the Bill. Lord Carrington said that he could see force in the argument that it would be illogical not to treat the Gibraltarians as British Citizens when they were included in the European Community. Mr Raison said that, Gibraltar was, nevertheless, a Dependent Territory: and thought that the long-term assurance on immigration would help to defuse opposition there. He said that the Home Office did not agree with the suggestion put to him by Mr Luce that the Government should be prepared to concede an enabling clause to make flexibility over categories of citizenship possible. Lord Carrington mentioned that he had received strong representations in Brussels from Britons who were concerned about the possible loss of citizenship by their descendants.

Distribution:

NTD (to enter)

Private Secretary

PS/LPS

PS/Mr Blaker

PS/Mr Luce

PS/PUS

Chief Clerk

Mr Donald

Mr Adams

HKGD

SED

cc PS/Home Secretary

PS/Mr Raison Mr Woodfield

CONFIDENTIAL