ZEMORANDUM
THE
IMMIGRATI ON ACT 1971
ENTRY
INTO THE UK
1.
The following Resolution was adopted at the recent
Budget session of Legislative Council
2.
"That this House request of Her Majesty's Government
that the Falkland Islanders be entitled to the right
of abode in the United Kingdom.
0
In 1975 when Mr David Ennals, Minister of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met Governor French and
Councillors in Rio de Janeiro, the subject of the right of
entry was discussed, which resulted in the following public
statement being made by the Governor on his return
"Councillors sought an assurance from the Minister
that there would be free access to the United Kingdon
for all persons born in the Falkland Islands. The
Minister explained why such an assurance could not
easily be given but said to the best of his knowledge
no Islander had ever got into insurmountable diff-
iculties. Should this occur, the person concerned
should approach a Councillor and, if necessary, the
Governor, who would make every effort to sort things
out promptly with the appropriate authority in London."
While this was a step forward and went some way to alleviating
the situation it did not go far enough; it was unfortunately
misinterpreted as giving the right of entry to everyone, which
was not the case; prospective emigrants were faced with a
door that was only partially open. Mr Evan Luard's reply of
13 December to Mr Hunter Christie gave some assurance the door