TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 105

CONIIDENTTAL

DSR 11C

NN 340/1(13)

nnex C, Part B

olio 33

NN 340/1(13)

Falklands)

lio l

of the 1981

Act

as they affected the Falkland Islanders has

been the subject of speculation only. In August 1981, shortly

before an amendment was due to be introduced in the Commons

which would have conferred BC status on Falklanders, our

embassy in Buenos Aires was asked how the Argentines might

react if the amendment were carried. The Embassy replied

that they could not make any confident predictions but felt

that the Argentine Government might even welcome such a

development as a 'public recognition by us that those now

living in the Falklands are really UK belongers'.

But as

Mr Bright in SAmD noted in his minute of 9 February this year,

we simply do not know how the Argentines will respond to a

passport describing a Falkland Islander as a BDTC.

Presumably

the idea of an informal approach to the Argentine authorities

before the conflict was ruled out. We were prepared however

to consider the possibility of revised travel document

('white card') arrangements for Falklanders travelling to

Argentina if the Argentines reacted unfavourably (Mr Bright's

minute again).

9 Finally it is worth mentioning that a brief for the Home

Minne

Secretary for a meeting with, Michael Shersby MP in October

ん

CONFIDENTIAL

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Annex C GNN

1(13)