[Page 1.]

[Letterhead:] DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION

MGT.

[Handwritten in blue ink, 'Copy on', with an arrow pointing to the typed reference number 'No. 53/60942.']

THE MINISTER. [underlined.]

[Underlined heading:] M.C.H. P [full surname blocked out throughout the document] - Admission.

On 20th December, 1952 P, a Ceylon Burgher, made application for permission to enter Australia for permanent residence. Following an interview by the Official Secretary, Office of the Australian High Commissioner, Colombo, his application was rejected. The Official Secretary reported : -

"Mr. P seems a good type but he is not 75% European in appearance".

P appealed against this decision and when doing so advised that he was engaged to a Miss M [full surname blocked out throughout the document], a member of a Burgher family, who had been granted permission to proceed to Australia for residence. It was not considered that his engagement to a woman who had been granted authority to proceed to Australia for residence warranted special consideration and the application was again rejected. Miss M was fully aware of the fact that her fiancée was not eligible for entry when she departed from Ceylon.

Pereara revived his application following the departure of Miss M from Ceylon but the decision of non-approval was not varied.

Subsequent to this refusal representations have been made by the M family for the entry of P and in this regard the assistance of the Rev. C. Frazer of the Geelong Church of England Grammar School has been sought.

On receipt of the most recent letter from the Rev. Frazer, you expressed the view that : -

(i) fiancees of Australian Citizens or British subjects permanently resident in Australia should be granted the same concessions as spouses of Australian Citizens or British subjects permanently resident in Australia;

(ii) that P's entry should be approved.

Under existing policy the non-European spouses of Australian Citizens or British subjects permanently resident in Australia may be admitted under exemption for a period of five years, provided the person concerned is of some standing and of a type who would be readily assimilated into Australia.

[Page] 2.

P is aged 29 years, he is not a full blooded Asiatic and, according to the Official Secretary, Colombo, is a good type. He is an ex official of the Post Master General’s Department, Ceylon, having resigned his position to proceed to Australia. His photograph is attached. His engagement appears to be genuine.

Recommended that :-

(a) The policy in regard to the entry of the non-European wives of Australian Citizens or British subjects permanently residing in Australia be extended to cover fiancees with the exception that fiancees be admitted under exemption for three months, subject to bond. The bond to be cancelled and the exemption to be extended for five years on evidence of marriage being produced;

(b) If (a) is approved, the admission of Mr. P be authorised subject to the conditions laid down.

[Handwritten initials ‘HCM’ in blue ink, dated '11/5'.]

[Handwritten signature:] T.H.E. Heyes

(T.H.E. HEYES)

SECRETARY. [underlined.]

11/5/55.

[A black and white photo of a dark-haired young man in a white suit is stapled to the page.]

[Handwritten annotation in bottom right corner:] Original to go on policy file relating to admission of non-European fiancees of Australian citizens & British subjects. Action to be taken on individual case of Pereara.