TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 39

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SUBJECT: FALKLAND ISLANDS (BRITISH CITIZENSHIP) (NO 2) BILL

Introduction

1. Lord Bruce of Donnington is expected to press for a

second reading of his Bill to amend the British Nationality

Act 1981 (BNA 1981) so as to grant British citizenship

to all Falkland Islanders.

2.

This will probably occur in

the second half of October and is likely to succeed.

Amendment of the Act in this way would create very

serious problems for the FCO, particularly in the Hong

Kong context, and for the Home Office in regard to

immigration. The Home Office lead in nationality matters.

Objectives

3. To decide what action the Government should take on

Lord Bruce's amendment.

Line to Take in Cabinet Committee

4. Lord Bruce's amendment will reopen in Parliament the

wider issue of British Dependent Territories citizenship

(BDTC). BNA 1981 has few friends.

There are some members

of both Houses who object in principle to its provisions

and might like to unravel the legislation before commence-

ment on 1 January 1983. Others, particularly Lord Bruce,

may wish to embarrass the Government. Whatever tactics are

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