TNAG-1189-FCO40-1491-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 59

16. But, it may be said, an exception has already been made for

Gibraltar. That is not so. People born, registered or naturalised

in Gibraltar, as well as their immediate descendants if born outside

Gibraltar, will be British Dependent Territories citizens. It is

true that, under section 5 of the Act, they may subsequently be

registered as British citizens. But section 5 gives special

treatment not to Gibraltarians specifically but only inasmuch as they

fall to be treated as United Kingdom nationals for European Community

purposes. Indeed, were the relationship of Gibraltar to the

European Community ever to change, section 5 might cease to benefit

Gibraltarians.

Gibraltarians as such are not mentioned.

17. Section 5 therefore provides no precedent for specifically

territory

mentioning one dependent and singling out its inhabitants for

preferential treatment. My point is illustrated by the fact that

the Bill which your Lordships are debating today is not based in any

way on section 5.

18.

this.

My Lords, I turn now to the basic point, which seems to me to be

In October last year, your Lordships voted, by the narrowest

possible majority, it is true, to reject an amendment which would have

8