TNAG-1193-FCO40-1495-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 117

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

Essential Facts

1. Members of Legislation Committee will already have seen the Secretary of State's minute of 19 November to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary's minute of 17 November and

memorandum of the 18th.

2.

Baroness Vickers introduced an amendment with the same

intention of making all Falkland Islanders British citizens in

October 1981 during the Third Reading of the Nationality Bill. On that occasion before the invasion by Argentina she lost by

only one vote. Her success now seems certain and the Ilome

Secretary's proposal that the Government should not oppose the Bill in the Lords and should offer drafting assistance has been

approved.

3.

Although St Helena has no formal lobby in Parliament Sir

Bernard Braine takes a protective interest in the affairs of

the island.

4. There is marginal EC implication in that the Falkland

Islanders who become British citizens will also be British

nationals for EC purposes and will benefit from freedom of establishment in other Community countries. The numbers are very

small.

Nationality and Treaty Dept

22 November 1982