TNAG-1084-FCO40-1334-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 50

CONFIDENT Í AL

5. The Government opposed the new clause in the House of Lords,

as they had a similar amendment in the House of Commons, on the grounds that they did not agree that the relationship with the European Communities should have an effect in our Nationality Law. Nevertheless strong support from the European lobby in the House of Lords as well as from others caused the amendment to be passed.

(There were several other amendments in the Lords which were

strongly argued on similar grounds that there should be special

provisions benefitting people working in the institutions of the European Community and the children born in the European Community of British citizen parents beyond the first generation which were successful/failed but attracted significant support.)

6. The new clause does not affect Gibraltar's inclusion in

Schedule 6 of the new Nationality Bill as one of the territories to be included in CBDT and all Gibraltarianswill on commencement

of the new Act become CBDT.

For Your Own Information

7.

The Government are considering the implications of the Lords' vote carefully. Whether Parliament will be prepared to reverse this amendment either at the Report Stage in the Lords or subsequently in the House of Commons is a question which will require careful study of the political and Parliamentary factors involved including the interests of the Dependent Territories. A decision may well not be taken until shortly before the end of the Parliamentary recess in October.

in

8. I should be grateful if you would use paragraphs 1-6 of this guidance as background explaining the position in the territory for which you are responsible. The line to take is to say that the Government have made clear their opposition to various amendments on Gibraltar both in the Lords and the Commons and that they consider all the dependencies should be treated identically.

CONTIDENTIAL

19.