TNAG-1085-FCO40-1335-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 145

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in Parliamentary terms. If it proved impossible to reverse he hoped the realities of the situation could be explained to liong Kong. Sir Philip Haddon-Cave

emphasised that if Gibraltarians were seen to be

getting better treatment than their CBDT counterparts

in other dependent territories people in Hong Kong and

particularly the Unofficial Members of the Executive

and Legislative Councils would revive their requests

for a clearer statement of their British status.

5.

Meanwhile the Whips remain of the opinion that

the Gibraltar amendment cannot be reversed in the

Lords and they are doubtful of success in the Commons.

The Home Secretary would-prefer-if-at-all-possible-te

avoid-the-prospect of defeat -in-the-Gommons-on-this-

amendment.

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6. There are three possible courses of action:

•

to accept a Lords amendment in favour of Gibraltar

without significant resistance. This is

impracticable in view of the assurances given to Hong Kong It would also open wide the way to the Falkland Islands amendment;

b. to resist the Gibraltar amendment in the lords with

the prospect of defeat there, but not to resist it

in the Commons. This might have the effect of

delaying the Hong Kong reaction and should make

it easier to hold up a Falkland Islands amendment.

But it would destroy the consistency with which

the Government have argued that CBDT is a

uniform citizenship.

e

c. To resist the Gibraltar amendment in both Houses

which would have the advantage of consistency, and (Also by the time a decision on Gibraltar was-reached,

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