§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom and Rhodesia passports, respectively, have been withdrawn from their holders during the last two years, and for what reasons; in how many cases they were withdrawn by diplomatic or consular officers overseas, and in what countries; what instructions have been issued in this regard to immigration officers and overseas missions, respectively; and what warnings and explanations were given to those affected.
§ Mr. Whitlock:The two main reasons for withdrawing United Kingdom and Rhodesian passports from their holders are:
- (a) that the holders are being repatriated at public expense; and
- (b) that the passports have been issued or renewed by the illegal régime in Rhodesia or the holders are known to be active supporters of that régime.
Detailed statistics are not kept, but it is estimated that during the last two years 5,000 passports have been withdrawn for the first, and 600 for the second of the above reasons.
All the passports withdrawn from repatriates have been United Kingdom ones. Some have been withdrawn by the officers effecting the repatriations and some by United Kingdom immigration officers on the arrival of the repatriates. I cannot say in what proportions.
Those withdrawn from Rhodesians have included both Rhodesian and United Kingdom passports. Almost all have been withdrawn in this country, and all but a small percentage have been illegal documents.
The instructions given to Immigration and Diplomatic Service officers have been such as to achieve, so far as possible. the withdrawal of passports in the circumstances indicated in the first paragraph of this reply.
When a repatriate's passport is withdrawn he is informed that it will be returned on repayment of his debt to Her Majesty's Government.
693WWhen a passport is withdrawn from a Rhodesian by a United Kingdom Immigration officer, the holder is given a receipt on which the following notes appear:
A British passport is issued in pursuance of the Royal Prerogative; it remains the property of the Crown and may be withdrawn at any time by a person duly authorised by the Secretary of State. A document purporting to be a passport but issued on or after 11th November, 1965, by the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia may be impounded under the provisions of the Southern Rhodesia (Property in Passports) Order, 1965.The receipt also indicates that the recipient may apply to the Passport Office in London for a replacement travel document. If the holder raises the question why his passport is being withdrawn the Immigration Officer advises him to take the matter up with the Passport Office.
When a passport is withdrawn from a Rhodesian by a Diplomatic Service officer, the holder is informed that this
(1) (2) Trade with the United Kingdom. Trade with the United Kingdom Year Imports Exports (including Re-exports) Imports Exports (including Re-exports) (a) (b) (c) (d) 1967* … … 55 45 46 54 1966 … … 57 43 50 50 1965 … … 58 42 51 49 1964 … … 60 40 45 55 1963 … … 60 40 49 51 1962 … … 60 40 51 49 1961 … … 60 40 55 45 1960 … … 60 40 52 48 1959 … … 60 40 55 45 1958 … … 61 39 57 43 1957 … … 63 37 66 34 1956 … … 59 41 63 37 1955 … … 59 41 64 36 1954 … … 59 41 70 30 1953 … … 59 41 80 20 1952 … … 57 43 85 15 1951 … … 52 48 74 26 EXPLANATORY NOTES: (a) From all sources, expressed as a percentage of total external visible trade with all countries. (b) To all destinations, expressed as a percentage of total external visible trade with all countries. (c) From the U.K., expressed as a percentage of total external visible trade with the U.K. (d) To the U.K., expressed as a percentage of total external visible trade with the U.K. *January-November (latest figures available).
§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportions of Hong Kong's total external visible trade in 1967 were represented by imports and by exports; and 694W is being done because his passport has been declared invalid.