TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 103

370

NID

HKCK 340|1

RECEIVED AN RAMWAY NO. 51

25 SEP 1981

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

اوله

PA

RL4STRY

Action Taken

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

25 a

Pür 2819

London SWIA 2AH

24 September 1981

From the Pachamientary Under Secretary of State

Mr. Williamom J24.9 -10249

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL: GIBRALTAR

cc:

PS/LPS Mr Adam

SED

HKGD

PS/Lord Chancellor' PS/Chief Whip, (Lords)

See

See (388

I write following the Home Secretary's meeting on 17 September. It seems to me that we got things right then, except perhaps in the suggestion that the promoters of the Gibraltar amendment might be asked to move the necessary tidying up amendments. If this means that we would do the Gibraltar lobby's drafting for them my view is that we should think again. It will surely be easier for the Home Secretary to dispose of the Gibraltar amendment in the Commons if the drafting is faulty than if we have corrected it for them or if they have done so with our help and agreement.

Decisions on this matter are of course for you and your colleagues but I should have thought that you need go no further now than to point out to Nicholas Bethell the shortcomings of his provisions as they presently stand.

Lord Belstead

Parliamentary Under Secretary

Home Office

Queen Anne's Gate

London SW1

(Trefgarne)