TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 43

OO HONG KONG

GRS 335

ник у ног

REINED IN APNGTRY RO. 51 2 4 JUL 1981

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

9242

REGISTRY Action Taken.

252x12

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 231300Z JUL 81

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 615 OF 23 JULY.

FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM DONALD

YOUR TELNO 695:

(319

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

320

OF COPY

20555 - 2

1.

THE AMENDMENT VOTED IN THE LORDS LAST NIGHT OCCURRED

DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE. THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE REPORT

STAGE AND THE THIRD READING IN THE LORDS BUT THIS VILL NOT

HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY RECESS ENDS ON 3 OCTOBER.

THE COMMONS RESUME BUSINESS ON 19 OCTOBER AND PROROGATION HAS BEEN

FIXED FOR 30 OCTOBER.

2.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBILITIES. THE GIBRALTAR

AMENDMENT COULD BE REVERSED AT THE REPORT STAGE IN THE

LORDS. ALTERNATIVELY THE BILL COULD GO BACK TO THE COMMONS

WITH ITS PRESENT AMENDMENT. THE BILL CANNOT BECOME LAW BEFORE

THE COMMONS HAVE CONSIDERED ANY LORDS' AMENDMENTS TO IT AND

IF AMENDMENTS ARE REJECTED BY THE COMMONS, THE BILL WOULD

HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE LORDS. THERE IS OF COURSE THE TIME PROBLEM.

3.

THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALREADY MADE CLEAR THEIR OPPOSITION TO

VARIOUS AMENDMENTS ON GIBRALTAR BOTH IN THE LORDS AND COMMONS ON

THE GROUNDS THAT ALL THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES SHOULD BE TREATED

IN THE SAME WAY.

4.

MINISTERS HAVE NOT YET DECIDED HOW TO PLAY THE HAND

FOLLOWING LAST NIGHT'S EVENTS. A DECISION MAY WELL NOT BE TAKEN

FOR SOME TIME. THERE MUST NOW BE A PERIOD OF CALM DELIBERATION

AND IT IS IMPORTANT AT THIS STAGE THAT YOU SHOULD STRONGLY

DISCOURAGE UMELCO FROM PUTTING FORWARD EXTREME DEMANDS INTO WHICH

THE PROPOSERS MIGHT BECOME LOCKED.

1

CONFIDENTIAL