TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 144

I

LILIA B

...

in particular

GIBRALTAR AND CITIZENSHIP OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT

TERRITORIES (CBDT): ESSENTIAL FACTS

1.

The position has changed very little since LPS

discussed the Gibraltar amendment with the Home

Secretary on 6 August.

2.

The effect of the amendment introduced by the

Exitish Lords in Committee in July would be to make United

Kingdom citizenship available to Gibraltarians on

application. This would breach the Government's

line that citizenship of the British Dependent

Territories (CBDT) is a homogeneous category and

that it is not a second class citizenship. Hong

Kong/would resent the favoured treatment given to

Step 4* another dependency and would renew their campaign

to be more 'British' in status or nomenclature

than CBDT allows.

Other D'T's

J. clud.

British

3. It is likely that an amendment to make the

Falkland Islanders United Kingdom-citizens on a par

with the inhabitants of the Channel Islands or the

Isle of Man which was withdrawn in the Lords in July

will be reintroduced in October, We would not expect this to lead to serious difficulties with the

wilkesboltar Argentine Government. But the Falkland Islands do not

fall within the area of the EC so special pleading

for exception on those grounds is not available.as-

in-the-case of Gibraltar. And to make a major concession

to a second dependency could increase the difficulties

with Hong Kong by arousing suspicions of racial

discrimination.

4. On 8 September Mr Raison, discussing the Hong Kong

aspect with Sir Philip Haddon-Cave the next Chief Secretary of the Colony, said that the Government regarded the Gibraltar amendment as unfortunate. They hoped to reverse it but that could be difficult

/in