TNAG-1193-FCO40-1495-Implications-for-Hong-Kong-of-changes-in-the-British-nationa-1982 — Page 124

1.

00 HONG KONG DESK BY 250100Z

GRS 299

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 250100Z

FM FCO 241720Z NOV 82

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

CONFIDENTIAL

HKG D

2.36

NO DISTRIBUTION

38148

A

1

HKK 340/1

No

24/1 AF201u

TELEGRAM NUMBER 993 OF 24 NOVEMBER

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT

MIPT.

1. FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PERSONAL MESSAGE TO YOU FROM LORD

MACLEHOSE:

BEGINS:

1. ON MONDAY LADY VICKERS WILL MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE

BRITISH NATIONALITY (FALKLAND ISLANDS) AMENDMENT BILL. IT

WOULD GIVE FALKLAND ISLANDERS SIMILAR TREATMENT TO GIBRALTAR.

2. SHE HAS ASKED FOR MY SUPPORT. UNLESS YOU SEE OBJECTION I AM

PREPARED TO INTERVENE BRIEFLY, WITHOUT COMMENTING ON THE

SUBSTANCE, TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

I. SOME PEOPLE MAY FEEL THAT THE POSITION OF HONG KONG IS AN

OBSTACLE TO THIS BILL.

II. HONG KONG PEOPLE RESENTED THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL

WITH ITS DOUBLE-LOCKING AGAINST THEM OF THE DOOR TO THE

UK AND THE FORCED CHANGE IN THE NOMENCLATURE OF THEIR

CITIZENSHIP.

III. IF THE BILL IS AMENDED IN FAVOUR OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS,

AND NOT FOR OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES THERE WILL BE

FURTHER RESENTMENT AND SOME CYNICAL COMMENT.

IV. NEVERTHELESS I DO NOT THINK THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE WOULD

WISH THEIR FEELINGS USED AS AN ARGUMENT TO DENY THESE

PROPOSED BENEFITS TO FALKLAND ISLANDERS.

V. MOREOVER THEY WOULD REALISE THAT SINCE ONLY ABOUT 400

PERSONS WOULD BE INVOLVED, THE TWO CASES ARE NOT

COMPARABLE.

VI. THEREFORE I FEEL THE BILL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON ITS

MERITS, WITHOUT REGARD TO HONG KONG.

VII. NATURALLY I WELCOME ACTION BY HMG TO DISCHARGE ITS

1

CONFIDENTIAL

Banking