TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 135

b)

c)

of British citizenship for all Falkland Islanders;

or

to allow events in Parliament to take their course

unopposed by Government spokesmen; or

to restate Government objections in principle to

Lord Bruce's amendment. Bill

Recommendation

4. That Mr Onslow's meeting to discuss the issue should

start from the premise that course (c) will be followed.

Argument

5. To do otherwise would lead to greater difficulties.

Background

6. Lord Bruce's amendment will reopen in Parliament

the wider issue of British Dependent Territories

Citizenship. 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

legislation before commencement.

Others might try to

create an opportunity to embarrass the Government,

which Mr Whitelaw sees as Lord Bruce's motive.

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 British Dependent

Territories Citizenship (and so at least by implication

oppose an exception for some of the Falkland Islanders)

/they

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