TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 85

447

GPS 180

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG 221010Z OCT 81

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 960 OF 22 OCTOBER

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

ннн 3401

23 TOPI

73

DESK OFFER

MOEX

f

PA

23.10

pas 26/10

YOU ARE NO DOUBT AWARE OF THE REPORT BY MARTIN LINTON HEADED **FALKLANDERS GET GUARANTEE '' IN THE GUARDIAN OF 21 OCTOBER. 2. THE CONTENTS OF THE LINTON ARTICLE WERE ALSO REPEATED IN A REPORT BY MICHAEL CHUGANI CARRIED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF TODAY'S

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.

See (448

3. THESE REPORTS SUGGEST THAT SOME ARRANGEMENT HAS RECENTLY BEEN MADE OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF THE NATIONALITY BILL TO GIVE FALKLAND ISLANDERS A VIRTUAL RIGHT TO ENTER THE UK AT ANY TIME. IF THIS WERE TRUE IT WOULD GO MUCH FURTHER THAN THE ASSURANCES TO WHICH THE

HOME SECRETARY REFERRED IN THE SECOND READING DEBATE IN THE COMMONS ON 28 JANUARY (SEE HANSARD COLUMN 939)—ILSA

4. WE RECOGNISE THAT THE PRESS MAY HAVE GOT IT WRONG, BUT UMELCO HAVE PICKED THIS UP AND HAVE ASKED FOR OFFICIAL CLARIFICATION OF THE POSITION. IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF WE COULD TELL THEM THE EXACT TERMS OF THE ASSURANCES IF ANY, WHICH HMG HAVE GIVEN TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDERS.

MACLEHOSE

•

THIS TELEGRAM

WAS NOT ADVANCED

MINIMAL HK GD NEWS, D

NTD SAMD

copies To:

HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE

LONDON

CONFIDENTIAL