TNAG-2122-FCO40-3028-Future-of-the-Brigade-of-Gurkhas-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 31

SECRET

UK EYES A

Thirdly, the Home Secretary and the Minister of State for the

Armed Forces have argued that the provisions themselves should

be somewhat narrower than was envisaged when our original decision was taken. Briefly, they would like to tighten up the proposed provisions so that they do not remove from a person already settled in the UK his right to settled status and any entitlement to citizenship simply as a consequence of his joining the Armed Forces. The result of this narrowing of the proposed provisions is that the fact that they were intended to

single out the Gurkhas would be even clearer, and by that token

they would be more contentious.

To sum up, the firm view of the Business Managers is that while in due course it may be necessary to legislate, we should not do

so while the need remains uncertain, and that there are decided

advantages in not doing so in the forthcoming Session.

Arrangements have been made for the matter to be discussed in OD

Committee on Tuesday 13 November, but if it is possible for this issue to be resolved in correspondence before then, one way to meet the concerns expressed in Cabinet this morning would be by

having the Bill ready for introduction next week. To this end

we are arranging for the Bill to be taken by L next week.

I am copying this minute to the members of OD, the Home

Secretary, the Attorney General, the Chief Whips in both Houses

and Sir Robin Butler.

1 November 1990

SECRET

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GH

UK EYES A

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