CONFIDENTIAL
7.
The introduction of this amendment will draw attention to the special problems of Hong Kong at an inconvenient time for the Government, in the wake of confidential discussions about the future of Hong Kong between the Prime Minister and Chinese leaders.
8. If Government spokesmen in Parliament do not support the principle of a unitary BDTC (and so at least by implication oppose an exception for the Falkland Islands) they will find themselves less able subsequently to withstand pressure on the citizenship question from other dependent territories and in particular from Hong Kong. The line this could be expected to take would be:
a.
b.
C.
The Falkland Islands unlike Gibraltar have no link with the European Community to justify special treatment. Therefore if the Government express no opposition to moves to extend British Citizenship in that direction they will have tacitly abandoned the concept of BDTC.
Hong Kong immediately followed our lead in imposing sanctions on Argentina and contributed a handsome £2 mil- lion to the South Atlantic Fund. Six Hong Kong seamen were killed in the hostilities. If the law can be amended for the Falkland Islands then it can be for Hong Kong, unless our nationality policy is dictated by con- siderations of race.
They would not at this stage claim a right of free move- ment to the United Kingdom, but they would probably conclude that as BDTC had become meaningless the best course would be to advocate reversion to Citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies for all.
Points of this kind could be countered more easily if during debate of Lord Bruce's amendment Government spokesmen had reiterated the principles of BDTC. This would not rule out lively expressions of sympathy and support for the Falkland Islanders.
9. However it is the case that a positive or at least non- obstructive Government attitude would be consistent with our commitment to the Falkland Islanders following the recent con- flict. Expressions of sympathy and reiteration of previous assurances on right of entry will not be enough to deflect Par- liamentary and public criticism. We must expect the Falkland Islanders to continue to press their point, and they may not understand the Government's motives in resisting it.
10. The fact that some Islanders can be seen as 'second-class citizens' has been used in Argentine propaganda (as Lord Boyd- Carpenter mentioned in the Lords: Annex B) and Argentina and its supporters are likely to make continued play with this in international fora.
Christophun Howell's
C J Howells
Nationality & Treaty Dept
9 August 1982
CONFIDENTIAL
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