TNAG-0281-FCO40-317-Visit-of-the-Chancellor-of-the-Duchy-of-Lancaster-to-Hong-Ko-1970 — Page 193

CONFITENTIAL

PART III

C. Validity of United Kingdom Entry Certificates

18.1. The Commonwealth Immigrants Act of 1968 makes no provision

for the issue of entry certificates; this is an administrative

measure designed to assist a Commonwealth citizen (including a Colonial belonger) who wishes to ascertain in advance whether

he is eligible for admission to the U.K. on a temporary basis.

An entry certificate endorsed in a passport indicates to the

immigration officer at the United Kingdom port that the entry

certificate officer has examined the holder's application and

has been satisfied that he is eligible for admission to the

U.K. The entry certificate system is therefore intended to

help the control at the ports of entry in this country to run

smoothly but an entry certificate does not guarantee the holder

admission to the United Kingdom. He may be refused admission

on certain statutory grounds of health, criminal record or

security, etc.

11., An entry certificate is normally given a validity of

six months from the date of issue, during which time the holder

may make unlimited journeys to the U.K. and be admitted on a

temporary basis, provided he remains eligible for admission

under section 2(2) of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 196.

Furthermore, in the light of representations received from

various quarters, the Home Office have been considering this

question and have recently decided that the validity of entry

certificates may be increased to twelve months in certain specific categories, i.e. for "Visitor (B) (i.e. business

visitors) and "Official" endorsements.

CONFIDENTIAL

This concession is

/incorporated..........