TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 101

DSR 11C

340/1(13)

ex B(Hong

1

Kong)

340/1(13)

ex C, Part A

lklands)1981

produced a Green Paper which gave rise to considerable

public discussion. In 1978 the Home Office began work on a

White Paper under a Labour Government and continued on it

on broadly similar lines under the Conservatives until'its

publication in July 1980. The Bill, which was introduced.

in Parliament on 13 January 1981, was thoroughly debated in

both houses of Parliament.. A number of amendments were moved,

the most substantial of which were based on representations

made by administrations in the dependent territories,

notably Hong Kong, Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands. The

Bill finally received the Royal Assent on 30 October 1981.

There is nothing on Nationality and Treaty Department files

to suggest that the sovereignty dispute with Argentina had

any direct influence on either the timing or the content of

the Act.

lo 188 on

340/1(13)

ex C (1981)

Hong Kong

4 In its citizenship provisions for dependent territories

the Act emerged in much the same form as proposed in the

White Paper.

With the exception of Gibraltar, whose

belongers were granted the entitlement to registration as

CONFIDENTIAL

/British