TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 136

SECRETARY OF STATE- VISIT TO HONG KONG: FEBRUARY 1972

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C. UNITED KINGDOM IMMIGRATION POLICY

1. The Immigration Act received the Royal Assent on 28 October

1971. Most of the legislation will become effective in 1972 from

a date yet to be announced. It will be applied without discrim-

ination to all Commonwealth immigrants.

Holders of

2. The right of abode, or patriality, which the Act creates

can be held by any Commonwealth citizen who has one of the

appropriate connections with the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong passports will become patrial after five years ordinary

residence in Britain.

f

3. The Act does not alter the special status of Commonwealth

citizens in United Kingdom law. The rights of those already

settled here will be unimpaired.

4. Visitors, business and students, will continue to be welcome

here and will be admitted on the same basis as at present.

5.

Assistance will continue to be given to Commonwealth

citizens who wish to return to their countries of origin but

cannot afford to do so.

6.

The legislation will mainly effect Commonwealth citizens

coming to the United Kingdom for employment.

Holders of work

The

permits will lose the automatic right to settle in Britain.

Government have decided that control should continue to be

exercised on the level of Commonwealth immigration. Further, in

order to permit an increase in the rate of admission of United

Kingdom passport holders from East Africa the Department of Employ-

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