TNAG-2122-FCO40-3028-Future-of-the-Brigade-of-Gurkhas-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 38

NEW PS

Special AcTMETS

AC

•P/Ministers

1220re

MY MICKEVEI

LITER Lek

MO 3/18Dr Slate,

Mr Iain D

SECRET UK EYES A

SECRETARY OF STATE

PRIME MINISTER

Mr Galler

ANC

GEW

HKC 062 15

12

CF

1990

aar

a ar fe Mr

Кик

ARMED FORCES BILL

PROVISIONS AFFECTING GURKHAS

At its meeting on 9th May 1989 (OD(89) 3rd Meeting), OD

discussed the future of the Brigade of Gurkhas and decided that,

subject to any major changes in circumstances, we should plan to

retain a Gurkha brigade group after 1997 with a strength of about 4,000. The agreed plan assumed that a substantial proportion of the force would need to be based in the United Kingdom. OD also agreed that legislation should be introduced to ensure that the children of

the non-United Kingdom members of the Home Forces and their

non-United Kingdom wives did not acquire British citizenship by

birth, and to amend the Immigration Rules so that non-United Kingdom

members of the Home Forces and their families did not acquire rights

of settlement by virtue of the husband's service.

These changes

entail an amendment to the British Nationality Act 1981, a change in

the Immigration Rules, and a Parliamentary Statement disapplying the

long residence concession. In the absence of a more suitable

legislative vehicle, it was agreed that the 1991 Armed Forces Bill would be used to enact the required changes.

2.

As a result of the Options for Change exercise, and the reduction in the number of infantry battalions now in prospect, the plan agreed by OD needs to be reassessed. This task will involve

complex financial, operational and political considerations, and I do not expect to be able to make proposals to D until early next

year. The Armed Forces Bill will be introduced early in the new

Session. If we are to make provision in the Armed Forces Bill to

deny rights of settlement and citizenship entitlements to non

British members of the Armed Forces it would have to be included in

the Bill on introduction. This would give rise to inevitable

questioning about our plans for the future of the Gurkhas before we

are in a position to answer. I do not think this is sensible,

SECRET UK EYES A

1