TNAG-0334-FCO40-370-Visits-of-Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Af-1972 — Page 51

CONFIDENTIAL

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 discrimination to all Commonwealth immigrants.

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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. Holders of

Hong Kong passports will become patrial after five years ordinary

residence in Britain.

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.

Men

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

1

CONFIDENTIAL

/order