CONFIDENTIAL禨密
MEMO
To
file tome
ली
Assistant Political Adviser (G)
Director of Immigration
Ref. (68) in
IMM/CR 1/2638
Tel. No.
3-7328210
Date
19 April 1988
33
PA SCR 12/1102/87 (88)
Your Ref.
in
dated
14 April 1988
3.F. 3C
Registration for Voting in UK Elections
We spoke (Dee/Bunten) about Mr Clifford Allison's letter of
1 March to Lord Glenarthur.
2.
He
Mr Allison cites the registration of overseas electors as one of two examples to support his grossly generalised statement about British expatriates in Hong Kong being less effectively represented here than in other places where there are British consular posts. goes on to complain that immigration officials here do not understand what one requires and that the service of registering overseas electors "seems little known about in the department at large, e.g. when making a telephone enquiry about where to go to register to vote in UK elections".
3.
You are probably aware that the Representation of the People
enable Regulations 1986, which came into effect on 11 July 1986, British citizens abroad who have been resident in the UK and registered as electors within the previous five years to make an annual declaration. This will, in turn, allow their names to be included on the electoral register in the constituency where they were registered before they went abroad and to vote by proxy at any parliamentary or European parliament elections which occur during the life of that register. The declarations must however be made before 10 October
For those who were for inclusion in next year's electoral register. previously resident in Northern Ireland, the closing date is 15 September. In addition, the first time a declaration is made, it has to be attested by a consular official. The registration of overseas electors under the Representation of the People Act 1985 and its enabling Regulations is therefore a continuous annual exercise since 11 July 1986. Your office and the Security Branch are aware that the Immigration Department has agreed to take up this function on behalf of HMG.
4.
Contrary to Mr Allison's complaints, the Immigration Department's involvement in this matter since 1986 has been as extensive as any overseas consular posts or other dependent territories within the framework of directives given by FCO for publicising the matter and ensuring that all qualified British expatriates residing overseas are aware of their rights and the arrangements for attestation.
POLITIC
ADVISER'S
OFFICE
22 APR 1999
21865
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
CONFIDENTIAL #3 機密
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