the CBDT category. This might be achieved by a technical" amendment towards the end of the Bill to provide that a citizen of the British Dependent Territories could also be described in a passport as a 'British Dependent Territories citizen', and that at the discretion of the issuing authority the name of the colony might be substituted for the words 'Dependent Territories': The amendment would have to be permissive rather than mandatory so that dependencies could adopt the formula or not as circumstances dictated. The means for introducing such an amendment could be considered nearer the time; in the light of soundings in the Lords.
9.
The necessary quid pro quo would be an understanding in advance with the Covernor that it would be detrimental to Hong Kong to press for more. It will be necessary to clear the proposal with Peking, Draft telegrams prepared by HKGD are attached.
The Falkland Islands
10. These considerations will not affect the handling in parliament of the Falkland Islands amendment, which will have to be resisted in the Lords as undermining the whole principle of CBDT. If
the amendment nevertheless succeeds in the Lords its subsequent handling in the Commons will have to be discussed with Home Office Ministers in the light of developments on Gibraltar.
St Helena
11. It has been suggested that if the Gibraltar and Falkland Islands amendments were to succeed then some similarly favourable provision should be made to give St Helena a safety-valve in view of their economic unviability. Irrespective of the merits
of the case it would be impracticable to consider a last minute amendment of this nature in the final stages of the Nationality Bill, We are therefore not putting forward the problems of St Helena for Ministers' consideration on this occasion,
12. HKGD, SED, SAmD, and WIAD agree.
25 September 1981
Christophen Howells
CJ HOWELLS
Nationality & Treaty Department
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