TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 109

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CONFIDENTIAL

PRIVA

FAL

NOD

In Paky Ton

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121x

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1

LORD

16 October 1981

BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL : CITIZENS OF THE BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Thank you for your letter of 13 October. I know you will understand that I am now reverting to this subject only because I foresee serious problems for our relations with Hong Kong if things go wrong. I have indeed just received a personal message from the Governor of Hong Kong which underlines his deep concern over the attitude of Unofficials there. He believes that some may be considering resignation on this issue. However, I think that we can deal with the problem without damaging HMG's interests over the Bill.

Let me repeat that I agree that our main objective must be to defeat the Gibraltar amendment. I understand the difficulties of making an advance estimate of the mood of the Commons on this subject.

I can see that it would not now be practicable therefore for the Government themselves to introduce an amendment which would offer a fall-back to Hong Kong.

However Lord Geddes has put down another amendment on nomenclature at Third Reading but this time it seems to me that it is not objectionable or damaging to the purpose of the Bill. Apparently he has been told by Sir Peter Henderson that he cannot put down an amendment

The Rt Hon William Whitelaw CH MP

Home Secretary

Queen Anne's Gate

London SW1

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