TNAG-1193-FCO40-1495-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 116

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LEGISLATION COMMITTEE, TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER: BRITISH NATIONALITY (FALKLAND ISLANDS) AMENDMENT BILL

Points to Make

1.

Inconceivable that in the circumstances we could oppose

this Bill.

2.

Endorse Home Secretary's view that the exception should be

confined to the Falkland Islands.

3. We are likely to hear rumblings from other dependencies.

Particularly from St Helena. A waif in the South Atlantic.

Mixed population of about 5,000.

Negligible economic prospects.

See themselves a special case. Keen for us to alleviate their

problems by making immigration to this country easier.

We can resist. St Helena, unlike the Falkland Islands,

Hong Kong or Gibraltar has no well developed lobby in Parliament.

4.

5. In Hong Kong this amendment may be the occasion for

unfavourable comment on grounds of alleged racial favouritism.

They may claim to see it as a further example of distancing

ourselves. But as they have very recently got the 'British'

description of nationality in passports that they asked for any

representations from them in the Falkland context can probably

be contained.

6. No significant reaction is expected from Gibraltar. They

gained what they wanted in the form of access to British citizen-

ship under the Nationality Act.