Mr. Creech Jonesasked the Home Secretary whether any distinction is made by our authorities at the ports of this country in respect to procedure and facilities arising out of embarkation and arrival as between British protected subjects and British subjects?
§ Sir S. HoareAll passengers whether alien or British arriving in the United Kingdom from abroad unless travelling under special arrangements for excursionists, are required to be in possession of valid passports and in this respect no distinction is made between British protected subjects and British subjects, but the former who are not in law British 593W subjects must satisfy the immigration officer that leave to land may properly be granted in accordance with the provisions of the Aliens Order. In practice leave to land is freely accorded to British protected subjects unless there is some specific reason to the contrary such as the likelihood that they may become a charge upon public funds.
As regards embarkation, no person, British or alien, requires permission to leave the country. A number of British protected subjects arrive in this country as members of crews signed on abroad. Such persons are granted temporary shore leave during their ship's stay in port but in order that they may not be left to become destitute in this country steps are taken to ensure that they leave with their ship or another ship of the same owners or are repatriated by the owners to their own country.