TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 59

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Mrr Williams Jl.c

Hii 3401!

Ar. Howell's, N

Mr. Clift, HKGD Mr. Fearn, SAmD

Джо Spoke to Mr. Howells. There are

really

not other

CONFIDENTIAL

?

4-40

of convincing arguments & I don't think

We

seel add to the tel t

Separate copies to each

THE GIBRALTAR AMENDMENT

HK.

However

we shall need to be involved in X

1. No doubt Mr. Clift and Mr. Fearn are considering urgently messages to the Governers of Hong Kong and the Falkland Islands about the apparent Cabinet decision yesterday not to attempt to reverse the Gibraltar amendment in the Commons,

2. In this connection, I have asked Mr. Arthur to obtain right away from Mr. Alexander at No. 10 the agreed confirmation of the Ministerial decision. I personally have no doubt that a decision was taken, but apparently a No. 10 spokesman has thrown some doubt on the unfortunate Home Office leak about the Cabinet Office discussion on the front of this morning's Times.

110

3. No doubt NTD will assist in providing the most helpful possible explanatory material. For example, it is a fact that Gibraltar is the only dependency which is also a member of the European Community. It is also a fact that the Gibraltar amendment does not technically breach the dependent territory citizenship category.

4. If, as I assume, there is no question of attempting to reverse this decision, which is essentially political, no doubt all three departments will wish to consider what reassuring statements should be made in the winding-up speeches in the Commons. I am thinking particularly of a statement to give comfort to the Falkland Islands.

Гашев

མ་༤༢ གཞི་ཨན་

W.J. Adams

21 October 1981

Виски

noted Pas

22.10.

23/10

Copies to:

Sir A. Acland Mr. Day

Mr. Donald

Mr. Ure.