TNAG-1086-FCO40-1336-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1981 — Page 91

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Dean And Bethell

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE LONDON SWIH 9AT

210

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October 1981

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23:00

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As promised in my letter of 14 August, I am writing to let you know the line we propose to take in the House of Commons next week on your amendment to the British Nationality Bill which would give people from Gibraltar an entitlement to British citizenship on application. After very careful consideration, we have decided that we shall not ask the Commons to disagree with this amendment in principle.

However,

we continue to have some reservations about the drafting of the amendment and, rather than proposing that the Commons should accept it as it stands, we shall be bringing forward our own amendments in lieu. These amendments will not affect the substance of your provision.

I am sorry that you saw reports of the Government's decision on our attitude to your amendment in the Press before I was able to write to you. You will, I know, appreciate that it was certainly not my intention that you should learn of the decision in this way.

J

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With this

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The Lord Bethell

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