GPS 250
CHER CAT A
FM OTTAWA 871645Z
CONFIDENTIAL
· Whit
TO ROUTINE FCO TELNO 322 OF 7 JUNE 1978
INFO CANBERRA, WELLINGTON, NEW DELHI, KINGSTON.
SHEPHERD'S LETTER TO SMART OF 30 MAY.- 57
67
TOP COM
PATRIALS AND COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS WITH A UK-BORN GRANDPARENT
1. SINCE THE MAJORITY OF IMMIGRANTS OF UK ORIGIN ACQUIRE CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP THERE ARE VERY FEW CUKCS ENTITLED TO DERIVE PARTIALITY. FROM A UK GRANDPARENT. THERE ARE HOWEVER A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO AS COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS HAVING A GRANDPARENT BORN IN THE UK QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT UNDER THE IMMIGRATION PROVISIONS THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE EXACT NUMBERS INVOLVED BUT IT COULD BE
AS HIGH AS 2 MILLION.
2. WHEN THE SCORRI REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, RECOMMENDATION 14 ATTRACTED A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ATTENTION IN THE MEDIA AND PROVOKED NO PUBLIC REACTION BEYOND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNFAVOURABLE, COMMENT
· PRIVATELY MADE TO THE CONSULAR POSTS. NEVERTHELESS ANY STEP WHICH DEPRIVED PEOPLE OF UK DESCENT OF WHAT THEY REGARD AS THEIR QUOTE RIGHT UNQUOTE FREELY TO ENTER THE UK COULD PROVOKE A
STRONG AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. WE THINK THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE
A PASSING PHENOMENON.
3. THE IMPACT OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE CONCESSION TO COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS WOULD BE OFFSET BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO COMPARABLE CONCESSION IN CANADIAN IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION, WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY TIGHTENED UP. THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DID NOT REACT TO SCORRI AND WE DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD WISH TO MAKE AN ISSUE
OF IT.
4. WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT POSTPONING A DECISION WOULD
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE CANADIAN REACTION.
5. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ACTION PROPOSED WOULD CREATE EXTRA WORK FOR IMMIGRATION STAFF FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD.
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Cura 244/34
JUN1978
COPIES TO
MR J CHILCOT HOME OFFICE
LUNAR HOUSE
CONFIDENTIAL
U
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