TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 123

Lord N Gordon Lennox

PS/Mr Onslow

CONFIDENTIAL

cc:PS/Mr Rifkind

Mr Ure

Mr Donald

Mr Fearn, SAmD

Mr Clift

Mr Edwards, WIAD

Mr Jackson, Falklands Unit

SED

SPD

MVD

Parliamentary Unit

SHOULD BRITISH CITIZENSHIP BE GIVEN TO ALL FALKLAND ISLANDERS?

1. Mr Onslow has asked for a paper on this subject in prepara- tion for further discussion. Almost simultaneously Home Office officials have warned us that Mr Whitelaw can be expected to enquire about FCO views when he returns from leave at the end of August. Extracts are attached from a correspondence (Annex A) centring around the recent exchange between Lord Boyd- Carpenter and Lord Elton in the House of Lords (Annex B).

2

In appears to be accepted that Lord Bruce of Donington will not be deflected from the Second Reading of his Bill to amend the Nationality Act. This will probably occur in the second half of October. It is further accepted that he will succeed in this, which could lead on to an awkward situation in the Commons.

In these circumstances a decision is required between the following lines of action:-

3.

a.

b.

c.

to reverse Government policy and grant British citizen- ship to all Falkland Islanders;

to allow events in Parliament to take their course unopposed by Government spokesmen; and

to restate Government objections in principle to Lord Bruce's amendment.

Recommendation

That Mr Onslow's meeting to discuss the issue should start from the premise that course (c) will be followed. South Ameri- can Department and Hong Kong and General Department agree.

4.

Argument

To do otherwise would lead to greater difficulties.

Background

5.

6. Lord Bruce's amendment will reopen in Parliament the wider issue of British Dependent Territories Citizenship (BDTC). The recent Nationality Act has few friends. There are some members of both Houses who object in principle to its provisions and who would welcome an opportunity to start unravelling the legisla- tion before commencement. Others might try to create an opportunity to embarrass the Government which Mr Whitelaw sees as Lord Bruce's motive.

17.

CONFIDENTIAL