§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) on what date the Gilbert and Ellice groups of islands were brought under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific; and if Ocean Island was included in either of these groups;
(2) when a Protectorate was established over the Gilbert and Ellice groups of islands; and if Ocean Island was included in the Protectorate;
(3) when the Gilbert and Ellice Islands were annexed; and if Ocean Island was included in the schedule listing the islands in question which was published at the time of their annexation;
(4) when it was considered expedient to bring Ocean Island, Fanning Island and Washington Island within the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
§ Mr. LuardA British Protectorate in the Gilbert group of islands was proclaimed on 27th May 1892 and in the Ellice group of islands in September 1892. The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific had exercised some jurisdiction in the islands since 1877. The islands became a colony by an Order in Council of 10th November 1915. This order referred to the islands covered by the declarations of protectorates of May and September 1892, which did not include Ocean Island.
An Order in Council of 27th January 1916 extended the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony so as to include Ocean Island, Fanning Island and Washington Island. Ocean Island had been within the jurisdiction of the Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate since 28th November 1900. On that date the Queen's Regulations applicable to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate were also extended to Ocean Island, and from 1908 it was the administrative headquarters of the Protectorate.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the distance 326W between Ocean Island and Washington and Fanning Islands.
§ Mr. LuardOcean Island is approximately 1,831 nautical miles from Washington Island and 1,886 nautical miles from Fanning Island.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Christmas Island (Pacific) was included within the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Phoenix Islands were included within the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs upon what date an Advisory Council was first established for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony; and if the Council was established by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific or by the resident commissioner in the colony.
§ Mr. LuardAn Advisory Council was established under the Advisory Council Ordinance, 1963 enacted by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. The first meeting of the Advisory Council was held during September-October 1963.
§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when elections were first introduced in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony to elect members of the House of Representatives.
§ Mr. LuardThe Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order 1967 came into effect on 15th November 1967 and provided for the election of 23 elected members to a new House of Representatives which replaced the former Advisory Council. The House of Representatives met for the first time on 8th December 1967.