§ 65. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the inhabitants of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean were consulted before the decision was reached to transfer the island from the Singapore administration to that of the Australian Government.
§ Mr. ProfumoChristmas Island has no indigenous population. The island is populated only because of the activities of the Phosphate Commission. Practically all the adults there have been recruited as labour, mainly from Singapore, under terms of service which permit them to return to the place of their recruitment on leaving the Commission's employment. Their present citizenship rights will remain unaffected by the transfer of the island's sovereignty, and they will continue to be free to return to their own territories. In addition those remaining in the island will be eligible to acquire Australian citizenship. For these reasons Her Majesty's Government did not consider it necessary to consult them before deciding on this transfer.