Royaume-Uni

Declaration made upon signature:

“In signing the Agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom”) recalls Article 71 of the Agreement and has the honour to convey the following declarations:
1. The United Kingdom welcomes the general obligation to interpret and apply the BBNJ Agreement in a manner that promotes coherence and coordination with and that does not undermine other relevant instruments, frameworks and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies. In this context, the United Kingdom notes that the Antarctic Treaty system comprehensively addresses the legal, political and environmental considerations unique to that region and provides a comprehensive framework for the international management of the Antarctic.
2. The United Kingdom notes references in paragraph 8 of the Preamble to “the existing rights of Indigenous Peoples, including as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or of, as appropriate, local communities,” and in Article 7(k) to “the rights of Indigenous Peoples or of, as appropriate, local communities”. The United Kingdom’s long-standing and well-established position, set out in its annual explanation of position at the UN General Assembly on the rights of indigenous people, is that human rights are held exclusively by individuals. With the exception of the right of self-determination (Common Article 1 of the two International Human Rights Covenants), the United Kingdom does not recognise collective human rights in international law. The United Kingdom consider this important in ensuring that individuals within groups are not left vulnerable or unprotected by allowing the rights of the groups to supersede the human rights of the individual. The United Kingdom therefore understands any internationally-agreed reference to the rights of indigenous peoples or local communities, including those in the UN
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and, in the Agreement signed today, to refer to those rights bestowed by governments at the national level. The United Kingdom further understands the term “local communities” to be used consistently with the way it is used in the Convention on Biological Diversity.”

Declaration made upon ratification:

“(1) as declared at the time when the United Kingdom signed the Agreement, the United Kingdom recalls Article 71 thereof and welcomes the general obligation to interpret and apply the Agreement in a manner that promotes coherence and coordination with and that does not undermine other relevant instruments, frameworks and global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies. In this context, the United Kingdom notes that the Antarctic Treaty system comprehensively addresses the legal, political and environmental considerations unique to that region and provides a comprehensive framework for the international management of the Antarctic;
(2) as declared at the time when the United Kingdom signed the Agreement, the United Kingdom recalls Article 71 thereof and notes references in paragraph 8 of the Preamble to “the existing rights of Indigenous Peoples, including as set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or of, as appropriate, local communities.” and in Article 7(k) to “the rights of Indigenous Peoples or of, as appropriate, local communities”. The United Kingdom's long-standing and well-established position, set out in its annual explanation of position at the UN General Assembly on the rights of indigenous people, is that human rights are held exclusively by individuals. With the exception of the right of self-determination (Common Article 1 of the two International Human Rights Covenants), the United Kingdom does not recognise collective human rights in international law. The United Kingdom considers this important in ensuring that individuals within groups are not left vulnerable or unprotected by allowing the rights of the groups to supersede the human rights of the individual. The United Kingdom therefore understands any internationally agreed reference to the rights of indigenous peoples or local communities, including those in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in the Agreement, to refer to those rights bestowed by governments at the national level. The United Kingdom further understands the term “local communities” to be used consistently with the way it is used in the Convention on Biological Diversity; and
(3) pursuant to Article 10, paragraph 1, and Article 70 of the Agreement, the United Kingdom makes an exception to the application of the provisions of the Agreement to the utilisation of marine genetic resources and digital sequence information on marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction collected or generated before the entry into force of the Agreement for the United Kingdom.”

Declaration:
“In accordance with Article 23 of the Agreement, the United Kingdom declares that the persons referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of that Article, if they are nationals or permanent residents of the United Kingdom, shall in the United Kingdom enjoy only the privileges and immunities specified in those sub-paragraphs.”
Reservation:
“The United Kingdom shall not be bound by Article 15, paragraph 3.”

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

“The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will take all feasible measures to ensure that members of its armed forces who have not attained the age of 18 years do not take a direct part in hostilities.
The United Kingdom understands that article 1 of the Optional Protocol would not exclude the deployment of members of its armed forces under the age of 18 to take a direct part in hostilities where: -
a) there is a genuine military need to deploy their unit or ship to an area in which hostilities are taking place; and
b) by reason of the nature and urgency of the situation:-
i) it is not practicable to withdraw such persons before deployment; or
ii) to do so would undermine the operational effectiveness of their ship or unit, and thereby put at risk the successful completion of the military mission and/or the safety of other personnel.”
Upon ratification:

Declaration:

".....in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Optional Protocol:
- The minimum age at which individuals may join the UK Armed Forces is 16 years. This minimum broadly reflects the minimum statutory school leaving age in the United Kingdom, that is the age at which young persons may first be permitted to cease full-time education and enter the full-time employment market. Parental consent is required in all cases of recruitment under the age of 18 years.
The United Kingdom maintains the following safeguards in respect of voluntary recruitment into the armed forces:
1. The United Kingdom Armed Forces are manned solely by volunteers; there is no compulsory recruitment.
2. A declaration of age, backed by an authoritative, objective proof (typically the production of an authentic birth certificate) is an integral and early requirement in the recruitment process. Should an individual volunteering to enter the United Kingdom Armed Forces be found either by their own dration or by inspection of supporting evidence of age to be under 18 years of age, special procedures are adopted. These procedures include:
- the involvement of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the potential recruits:
- clear and precise explanation of the nature of duties involved in military service to the both the individual and their parent(s)/guardian(s); and
- as well as explaining the demands of military life to the individual volunteer and establishing that he/she remains a genuine volunteer, the requirement that the parent(s) or guardian(s), having been similarly informed, freely consent to the individual's entry into the Armed Forces and duly countersign the appropriate application or other appropriate recruitment process forms.

Reservation:

"... the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, having considered the Protocol aforesaid, hereby confirms and ratifies the same and undertakes faithfully to perform and carry out all the stipulations therein contained subject to the reservation that the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply article 3, paragraph 2, of the Protocol, in so far as it applies to new lean-burn spark ignition 4-stroke engines greater than 1 MWth capacity, believing that it is not likely to be technically feasible to achieve the limit value, specified in table 4 of annex V to the Protocol, of 250 mg/Nm3, for such engines.

Declaration:

"The United Kingdom understands the term "the established framework of international law", used in article 8 (2) (b) and (e), to include customary international law as established by State practice and opinio iuris. In that context the United Kingdom confirms and draws to the attention of the Court its views as expressed, inter alia, in its statements made on ratification of relevant instruments of international law, including the Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12th August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) of 8th June 1977.”

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

“The United Kingdom understands the references in article 1 and the seventh preambular paragraph of this Convention to the 'right' of every person 'to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being' to express an aspiration which motivated the negotiation of this Convention and which is shared fully by the United Kingdom. The legal rights which each Party undertakes to guarantee under article 1 are limited to the rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters in accordance with the provisions of this Convention."

Reservation:

"To the extent to which certain provisions of the Tampere Convention on the Provisions of Telecommunications Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations ("the Convention") fall within the area of responsibility of the European Community, the full implementation of the Convention by the United Kingdom has to be done in accordance with the procedures of this international organisation."

Declaration:

"It is the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom that the mere participation in the planning or execution of operations, exercises or other military activity by the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces, or individual United Kingdom nationals, conducted in combination with the armed forces of States not party to the [said Convention], which engage in activity prohibited under that Convention, is not, by itself, assistance, encouragement or inducement for the purposes of Article 1, paragraph (c) of the Convention."

Declaration:

"...
[The Government of the United Kingdom hereby confirms] the declarations made by the European Community upon ratification of the Agreement, and confirm that the interpretative declarations made by the European Community shall apply also to the United Kingdom's ratification of the said Agreement in respect of certain Overseas Territories, namely Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and Anguilla."
[See declarations under “European Community”.]

Upon signature:

Declaration:

[Same declaration , mutatis mutandis, as the one made by Belgium.]

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare their understanding that article 3 of the Convention sets out a guiding principle to be taken into account in the implementation of the Convention.
The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland also declare their understanding that the decisions to be taken by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 1 of article 21 concern "the amount of resources needed" by the financial mechanism, and that nothing in article 20 or 21 authorises the Conference of the Parties to take decisions concerning the amount, nature, frequency or size of the contributions of the Parties under the Convention.

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declares] that it intends to reduce its annual national emissions of VOCs by at least 30%, using 1988 levels as a basis."

Upon signature:

"The United Kingdom reserves the right to formulate, upon ratifying the Convention, any reservations or interpretative declarations which it might consider necessary."
Upon ratification:

Declarations:
"(a) The United Kingdom interprets the Convention as appli cable only following a live birth.
"(b) The United Kingdom interprets the references in the Convention to `parents' to mean only those persons who, as a matter of national law, are treated as parents. This includes cases where the law regards a child as having only one parent, for example where a child has been adopted by one person only and in certain cases where a child is conceived other than as a result of sexual intercourse by the woman who gives birth to it and she is treated as the only parent.
Reservations:
"[.....]"
Declaration:
"The United Kingdom reserves the right to extend the Convention at a later date to any territory for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible."
7 September 1994

Declarations:

"The United Kingdom refers to the reservation and declarations (a), (b) and (c) which accompanied its instrument of ratification and makes a similar reservation and declarations in respect to each of its dependent territories.
The United Kingdom, in respect of each of its dependent territories except Hong Kong and Pitcairn, reserves the right to apply article 32 subject to the laws of those territories which treat certain persons under 18 not as children but as `young people'. In respect of Hong Kong, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply article 32 (b) in so far as it might require regulation of the hours of employment ofyoung persons who have attained the age of fifteen years in respect of work in non-industrial establishments.
Where at any time there is a lack of suitable detention facilities or where the mixing of adults and children is deemed to be mutually beneficial, the United Kingdom, in respect of each of its dependent territories, reserves the right not to apply article 37 (c) in so far as those provisions require children who are detained to be accommodated separately from adults.
The United Kingdom, in respect of Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, will seek to apply the Convention to the fullest extent to children seeking asylum in those territories except in so far as conditions and resources make full implementation impracticable. In particular, in relation to article 22, the United Kingdom reserves the right to continue to apply any legislation in those territories governing the detention of children seeking refugee status, the determination of their status and their entry into, stay in and departure from those territories.
The Government of the United Kingdom reserves the right to extend the Convention at a later date to any other territories for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible."

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratifica- tion:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare that, in accordance with article 4 (12), the provisions of the Convention do not affect in any way the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms as provided for in international law. Accordingly, nothing in this Convention requires notice to or consent of any state for the passage of hazardous wastes on a vessel under the flag of a party, exercising rights of passage through the territorial sea or freedom of navigation in an exclusive economic zone under international law."

Reservation:

"The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will only consider the granting of immunity under article 7, paragraph 18, where this is specifically requested by the person to whom the immunity would apply or by the authority designated, under article 7, paragraph 8, of the Party from whom assistance is requested. A request for immunity will not be granted where the judicial authorities of the United Kingdom consider that to do so would be contrary to the public interest."

Upon signature:

"The United Kingdom reserves the right to formulate, upon ratifying the Convention, any reservations or interpretative declarations which it might consider necessary."

Declarations:

" (a) General
The United Kingdom cannot accept any declaration or statement made or to be made in the future which is not in conformity with articles 309 and 310 of the Convention. Article 309 of the Convention prohibits reservations and exceptions (except those expressly permitted by other articles of the Convention). Under article 310 declarations and statements made by a State cannot exclude or modify the legal effect of the provisions of the Convention in their application to the State concerned.
The United Kingdom considers that declarations and statements not in conformity with articles 309 and 310 include, inter alia , the following:
- - Those which relate to baselines not drawn in conformity with the Convention;
- - Those which purport to require any form of notification or permission before warships or other ships exercise the right of innocent passage or freedom of navigation or which otherwise purport to limit navigational rights in ways not permitted by the Convention;
- - Those which are incompatible with the provisions of the Convention relating to straits used for international navigation, including the right of transit passage;
- - Those which are incompatible with the provisions of the Convention relating to archipelagic states or waters, including archipelagic baselines and archipelagic sea lanes passage;
-- Those which are not in conformity with the provisions of the Convention relating to the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf, including those which claim coastal state jurisdiction over all installations and structures in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf, and those which purport to require consent for exercises or manoeuvres (including weapons exercises) in those areas;
- - Those which purport to subordinate the interpretation or application of the Convention to national laws and regulations, including constitutional provisions.
...
(c) The Falkland Islands
With regard to paragraph (d) of the Declaration made upon ratification of the Convention by the Government of the Argentine Republic, the Government of the United Kingdom has no doubt about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands and over South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Government of the United Kingdom, as the administering authority of both Territories, has extended the United Kingdom's accession to the Convention and ratification of the Agreement to the Falkland Islands and to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Government of the United Kingdom, therefore, rejects as unfounded paragraph (d) of the Argentine declaration.
(d) Gibraltar
With regard to point 2 of the declaration made upon ratification of the Convention by the Government of Spain, the Government of the United Kingdom has no doubt about the sovereignty of the United Kingdom over Gibraltar, including its territorial waters. The Government of the United Kingdom, as the administering authority of Gibraltar, has extended the United Kingdom's accession to the Convention and ratification of the Agreement to Gibraltar. The Government of the United Kingdom, therefore, rejects as unfounded point 2 of the Spanish declaration."
12 January 1998

"In accordance with article 287, paragraph 1, of the [said Convention], the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland chooses the International Court of Justice for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is a new institution, which the United Kingdom hopes will make an important contribution to the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea. In addition to those cases where the Convention itself provides for the compulsory jurisdiction of the Tribunal, the United Kingdom remains ready to consider the submission of disputes to the Tribunal as may be agreed on a case-by-case basis."
7 April 2003

Declaration pursuant to article 298, paragraph 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea:

".....the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland does not accept any of the procedures provided for in section 2 of Part XV of the Convention with respect to the categories of disputes referred to in paragraph 1(b) and (c) of article 298."
31 December 2020

Declaration pursuant to article 298:

"[The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has] the further honour hereby to convey the Declaration of the United Kingdom that pursuant to article 298, paragraph 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the United Kingdom does not accept any of the procedures provided for in section 2 of Part XV of the Convention with respect to the categories of disputes referred to in paragraph 1(a) of article 298."

Declarations and reservations:

"1. As Bank telegrams and telephone calls are not defined as Government telegrams and telephone calls in Annex 2 to the International Telecommunications Conventions signed at Montreux on 12 November 1965 and at Málaga-Torremolinos on 25 October 1973 and are therefore not entitled by the Convention to the privileges thereby conferred on Government telegrams and telephone calls, the Government of the United Kingdom, having regard to their obligations under the International Telecommunications Conventions, declare that the privileges conferred by Article 55 of the Agreement shall be correspondingly restricted in the United Kingdom but, subject thereto, shall be not less favourable than the United Kingdom affords to international financial institutions of which it is a member.
"2. In accordance with the provisions of article 64 (3) of the Agreement, the United Kingdom declares that it retains for itself and its political subdivisions the right to tax salaries and emoluments paid by the Bank to its citizens, nationals and permanent residents. The United Kingdom will not accord to consultants the privileges and immunities mentioned in article 56 unless they are experts performing missions for the Bank.
"3. In accordance with its current practice in regard to international organisations, the United Kingdom will, pursuant to the terms of article 57 (1) of the Agreement, accord to the Bank the following taxation privileges:
"a) Within the scope of its official activities, the Bank and its property and income will be exempt from all direct taxes, including income tax, capital gains tax and corporation tax. The Bank will also be exempt from municipal rates levied on its premises with the exception of the proportion which, as in the case of diplomatic missions, represents payments for specific services rendered.
"b) The Bank will be accorded a refund of car tax and value added tax paid on the purchase of new motor cars of Unitedngdom manufacture, and value added tax paid on the supply of goods or services of substantial value, necessary for the official activities of the Bank.
"c) Goods the import and export of which by the Bank is necessary for the exercise of its official activities shall be exempt from all duties of customs and excise and other such charges except payments for services. The Bank will be accorded a refund of the duty and value added tax paid on the importation of hydrocarbon oils purchased by the Bank and necessary for the exercise of its official activities.
"d) Exemption in respect of taxes or duties under the preceding sub-paragraphs will be accorded subject to compliance with conditions agreed with Her Majesty's Government. Goods which have been acquired or imported under the above provisions may not be sold, given away or otherwise disposed of in the United Kingdom except in accordance with conditions agreed with Her Majesty's Government.
"4. In the territory of the United Kingdom the immunity conferred by article 52 (1) and article 56 (i) shall not apply in relation to a civil action by a third party for damage arising out of an accident caused by a motor vehicle belonging to or operated on behalf of the Bank or a person covered by article 56, as the case may be, or in relation to a traffic offence committed by the driver of such a vehicle.
"5. Her Majesty's Government are not at the moment able to implement Article 57 (3) (ii) of the Agreement as this requires an amendment to existing legislation. Her Majesty's Government hope however that they will be in a position to implement it in the near future."

Upon signature:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will give further consideration to certain provisions of the Convention, particularly in relation to the provisions of Protocol I additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and may wish to make formal declarations in relation to these provisions at the time of ratification."
Upon ratification:

(a) Generally
(i) The term "armed conflict" of itself and in its context denotes a situation of a kind which is not constituted by the com- mission of ordinary crimes, including acts of terrorism, whether concerted or in isolation.
(ii) The United Kingdom will not, in relation to any situation in which it is involved, consider itself bound in consequence of any declaration purporting to be made for the purposes of article 7 (4), unless the United Kingdom shall have expressly recognised that it has been made by a body which is genuinely an authority representing a people engaged in an armed conflict of the type to which that paragraph applies.
(iii) The terms "civilian" and "civilian population" have the same meaning as in article 50 of the 1st Additional Protocol of 1977 to the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Civilians shall enjoy the protection afforded by this Convention unless and for such time as they take a direct part in hostilities.
(iv) Military commanders and others responsible for planning, deciding upon, or executing attacks necessarily have to reach decisions on the basis of their assessment of the information from all sources which is reasonably available to them at the relevant time.
(b) Re: Protocol II, article 2; and Protocol III, article 1
A specific area of land may be a military objective if, because of its location or other reasons specified in this article, its total or partial destruction, capture or neutralisation in the circumstances ruling at the time offers a definite military advantage.
(c) Re: Protocol II, article 3
In the view of the United Kingdom, the military advantage anticipated from an attack is intended to refer to the advantage anticipated from the attack considered as a whole and not only from isolated or particular parts of the attack.
(d) Re: Protocol III, article 2
The United Kingdom accepts the provisions of article 2 (2) and (3) on the understanding that the terms of those paragraphs of that article do not imply that the air-delivery of incendiary weapons, or of any other weapons, projectiles or munitions, is less accurate or less capable of being carried out discriminately than all or any other means of delivery.

Upon signature:

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare that it is their intention to make certain reservations and declarations upon ratification of the Convention.
Upon ratification:

"A. On behalf of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
(a) The United Kingdom understands the main purpose of the Convention, in the light of the definition contained in Article 1, to be the reduction, in accordance with its terms, of discrimination against women, and does not therefore regard the Convention as imposing any requirement to repeal or modify any existing laws, regulations, customs or practices which provide for women to be treated more favourably than men, whether temporarily or in the longer term; the United Kingdom's undertakings under Article 4, paragraph 1, and other provisions of the Convention are to be construed accordingly."
...
(c) In the light of the definition contained in Article 1, the United Kingdom's ratification is subject to the understanding that none of its obligations under the Convention shall be treated as extending to the succession to, or possession and enjoyment of, the Throne, the peerage, titles of honour, social precedence or armorial bearings, or as extending to the affairs of religious denominations or orders or any act done for the purpose of ensuring the combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces of the Crown."
...
"Article 9
The British Nationality Act 1981, which was brought into force with effect from January 1983, is based on principles which do not allow of any discrimination against women within the meaning of Article 1 as regards acquisition, change or retention of their nationality or as regards the nationality of theirchildren. The United Kingdom's acceptance of Article 9 shall not, how ever, be taken to invalidate the continuation of certain temporary or transitional provisions which will ctinue in force beyond that date."
...
"Article 11
...
"The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply all United Kingdom legislation and the rules of pension schemes affecting retirement pensions, survivors' benefits and other benefits in relation to death or retirement (including retirement on grounds of redundancy), whether or not derived from a Social Security scheme."
"This reservation will apply equally to any future legislation which may modify or replace such legislation, or the rules of pension schemes, on the understanding that the terms of such legislation will be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Convention."
"The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply the following provisions of United Kingdom legislation concerning the benefits specified:
...
b) increases of benefits for adult dependants under sections 44 to 47, 49 and 66 of the Social Security Act 1975 and under sections 44 to 47, 49 and 66 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975;
...
The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply any non-discriminatory requirement for a qualifying period of employment or insurance for the application of the provisions contained in Article 11 (2)."
"Article 15
...
"In relation to Article 15, paragraph 3, the United Kingdom understands the intention of this provision to be that only those terms or elements of a contract or other private instrument which are discriminatory in the sense described are to be deemed null and void, but not necessarily the contract or instrument as a whole."
"Article 16
As regards sub-paragraph 1 (f) of Article 16, the United Kingdom does not regard the reference to the paramountcy of the interests of the children as being directly relevant to the elimination of discrimination against women, and declares in this connection that the legislation of the United Kingdom regulating adoption, while giving a principal position to the promotion of the children's welfare, does not give to the child's interests the same paramount place as in issues concerning custody over children."
...
"B. On behalf of the Isle of Man, the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands:
[Same reservations as the one made on behalf of the United Kingdom under paragraphs A (a), (c), and (d) except that in the of case d) it applies to the territories and their laws).]
Article 1
[Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom except with regard to the absence of a reference to United Kingdom legislation.]
Article 2
[Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom except that reference is made to the laws of the territories, and not the laws of the United Kingdom.]
Article 9
[Same reservation as the one made in respect of the United Kingdom.]
Article 11
[Same reservation as those made in respect of the United Kingdom except that a reference is made to the laws of the territories, and not to the laws of the United Kingdom.]
"Also, as far as the territories are concerned, the specific benefits listed and which may be applied under the provisions of these territories' legislation are as follows:
a) social security benefits for persons engaged in caring for a severely disabled person;
b) increases of benefit for adult dependants;
c) retirement pensions and survivors' benefits;
d) family income supplements.
"This reservation will apply equally to any future legislation which may modify or replace any of the provisions specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) above, on the understanding that the terms of such legislation will be compatible with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Convention."
"The United Kingdom reserves the right to apply any non-discriminatory requirement for a qualifying period of employment or insurance for the application of the provisions contained in Article 11 (2)."
Article 13, 15 and 16
[Same reservations as those made on behalf the United Kingdom.]

Upon signature:

Declaration:

“The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland made a declaration according to the terms of which it shall not be bound by Part II, Part IV, Annex C.1, Annex F, Annex G and Annex H of the said Protocol, and within the framework of the European Economic Community, it will examine the possibility of accepting Annex C.1 in the light of the position adopted by other Contracting Parties with regard to that Annex.”
Upon ratification:

Declaration:

"The United Kingdom shall not be bound by Part II, Part IV, Annex C.1, Annex F, Annex G and Annex H;
"The United Kingdom, within the framework of the European Economic Community, will examine the possibility of accepting Annex C.1 in the light of the position adopted by other Contracting Parties with regard to that Annex."
"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reserves the right to extend the Protocol at a later date, to any territory for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible and to which the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials has been extended in accordance with the provisions of article XIII thereof."

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [notifies the Secretary-General] in accordance with article 10, section 2 (b) (ii) of the Agreement, that the standard clauses of the Convention on the privileges and immunities of the specialized agencies shall apply to the Fund in the United Kingdom, subject to the following modifications:
"1. The following shall be substituted for section 4:
`(1) The Fund shall have immunity from jurisdiction and execution except: (a) to the extent that it shall, by a decision of the Executive Board, have waived such immunity in a particular case. However, the Fund shall be deemed to have waived such immunity if, upon receiving a request for waiver submitted either by the person or body before which the proceedings are pending, or by another party to the proceedings, it has not given notice within two months after receipt of the request that it does not waive immunity; (b) in respect of a civil action by a third party in respect of loss, injury or damage arising from an accident caused by a vehicle belonging to, or operated on behalf of, the Fund or in respect of an offence involving such a vehicle; (c) in the event of the attachment, pursuant to a decision of a judicial authority, of the salary and emoluments owed by the Fund to a member of its staff; (d) in respect of the enforcement of an arbitration award made under article 11 of the Agreement establishing the Fund. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this section no action shall be brought against the Fund by a Member or person acting for or deriving claims from a Member.'
"2. The immunity conferred by section 5 upon the property and assets of the Fund shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 (c) above.
"3. The following shall be substituted for section 11:
`Official communications of the Fund shall be accorded by the Government of the United Kingdom treatment not less favourable than that which it accords to the official communications of other international financial institutions of which it is a Member, taking into account its international obligations in respect of telecommunications.'
"4. The following shall be substituted for sections 13-15, 17-21, and 25-30:
`(1) All representatives of Members (other than representatives of the Government of the United Kingdom), the President and all other staff of the Fund: (a) shall be immune from legal process in respect of acts performed by them in the exercise of their functions, except in the case of loss, injury or damage caused by a vehicle belonging to or driven by them or an offence involving such a vehicle; (b) shall be accorded no less favourable immunities from immigration restrictions, alien registration requirements and national service obligations, and no less favourable treatment as regards exchange regulations, than are accorded by the Government of the United Kingdom to the representatives to, and officials and employees of comparable rank of any other international financial institution of which it is a Member; and (c) shall be granted no less favourable treatment in respect of travelling facilities than is accorded by the Government of the United Kingdom to representatives to, and officials and employees of comparable rank of, any other international financial institution of which it is a member. (2) (a) No tax shall be levied on or in respect of salaries and emoluments paid by the Fund to the President and other members of the staff of the Fund unless they are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies or resident in the United Kingdom. (b) The provisions of paragraph (a) shall not apply to annuities and pensions paid by the Fund to its former President or other members of its staff.'"

[Same declaration, in essence, as the one reproduced under "Belgium".]

"(a) In the United Kingdom the immunity conferred by paragraph 1 of article 49 and subparagraph (a) of article 54 of the Agreement shall not apply in relation to a civil action arising out of an accident caused by a motor vehicle belonging to the Bank or operated on its behalf or to a traffic offence committed by the driver of such a vehicle.
"(b) As Bank telegrams and telephone calls are not defined as Government telegrams and telephone calls in Annex 2 to the International Telecommunication Convention (Montreux, 1965) and are therefore not entitled by the Convention to the privileges thereby conferred on Government telegrams and telephone calls, the Government of the United Kingdom, having regard to their obligations under the International Telecommunication Convention, declare that the privileges conferred by article 53 of the Agreement shall be correspondingly restricted in the United Kingdom, but, subject thereto, shall be not less favourable than the United Kingdom affords to international financial institutions of which it is a member.
"(c) The exemption referred to in paragraph 6(b) of article 55 of the Agreement shall not extend to any bearer instrument issued by the Bank in the United Kingdom or issued elsewhere by the Bank and transferred in the United Kingdom."

Upon signature:

"In signing the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare their understanding that nothing in article 66 of the Convention is intended to oust the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice where such jurisdiction exists under any provisions in force binding the parties with regard to the settlement of disputes. In particular, and in relation to States parties to the Vienna Convention which accept as compulsory the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that they will not regard the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of article 66 of the Vienna Convention as providing `some other method of peaceful settlement' within the meaning of sub-paragraph (i) (a) of the Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom accepting as compulsory the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice which was deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the 1st of January 1969.
"The Government of the United Kingdom, while reserving their position for the time being with regard to other declarations and reservations made by various States on signing the Convention, consider it necessary to state that the United Kingdom does not accept that Guatemala has any rights or any valid claim in respect of the territory of British Honduras."
Upon ratification:

It is [the United Kingdom's] understanding that nothing in Article 66 of the Convention is intended to oust the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice where such jurisdiction exists under any provisions in force binding the parties with regard to the settlement of disputes. In particular, and in relation to States parties to the Vienna Convention which accept as compulsory the jurisdiction of the International Court, the United Kingdom will not regard the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) of Article 66 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties as providing 'some other method of peaceful settlement' within the meaning of sub-paragraph (i) (a) of the Declaration of the Government of the United Kingdom which was deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the 1st of January 1969.

Reservations:

"(1) The United Kingdom does not consider itself bound by the provisions of the following Articles:
(i) Article 20(6)(b)
(ii) the second sentence of Article 23(2)(a)
(iii) Article 25 bis (2)
(iv) Article 32(6), (8), (9) and (10)
(2) In relation to Article 30(4), the United Kingdom does not consider itself bound by the requirements of this provision in so far as it relates to loads projecting up to 2m from the front or rear of vehicles.
(3) In relation to Article 41, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to permit a person to drive a vehicle, other than one brought into and only temporarily in the UK, if (i) the vehicle is used for the carriage of persons for hire or reward or for the carriage of goods and (ii) the driver of such a vehicle would, by the domestic legislation of the UK, be required to have a special vocational licence.
(4) The United Kingdom reserves the right, for the purposes of the application of the Convention, to treat certain categories of Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles, as cycles."
Declarations:

"(1) The United Kingdom declares that it is compliant with many of the Rules of the Road in Chapter II of the Convention through the Highway Code, which applies in Great Britain, and the Highway Code for Northern Ireland.
(2) In accordance with Article 54(2), the United Kingdom declares that, for the purposes of the application of the Convention, it treats mopeds as motorcycles.
(3) The United Kingdom declares that the ratification of this Convention only applies to the Metropolitan United Kingdom and does not apply to any Crown Dependency or Overseas Territory unless the United Kingdom makes an express declaration under Article 46(1), and that, untilsuch a declaration is made, the Convention on Road Traffic made at Geneva in 1949 and the International Convention Relative to Motor Traffic made at Paris in 1926 will continue in force in relations between the contracting parties to those Conventions and the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories."

Upon signature:

"First, the Government of the United Kingdom declare their understanding that, by virtue of Article 103 of the Charter of the United Nations, in the event of any conflict between their obligations under Article 1 of the Covenant and their obligations under the Charter (in particular, under Articles 1, 2 and 73 thereof) their obligations under the Charter shall prevail.
"Secondly, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that:
"(a) In relation to Article 14 of the Covenant, they must reserve the right not to apply, or not to apply in full, the guarantee of free legal assistance contained in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 3 in so far as the shortage of legal practitioners and other considerations render the application of this guarantee in British Honduras, Fiji and St. Helena impossible;
"(b) In relation to Article 23 of the Covenant, they must reserve the right not to apply the first sentence of paragraph 4 in so far as it concerns any inequality which may arise from the operation of the law of domicile;
"(c) In relation to Article 25 of the Covenant, they must reserve the right not to apply:
"(i) Sub-paragraph (b) in so far as it may require the establishment of an elected legislature in Hong Kong and the introduction of equal suffrage, as between different electoral rolls, for elections in Fiji; and
"(ii) Sub-paragraph (c) in so far as it applies to jury service in the Isle of Man and to the employment of married women in the Civil Service of Northern Ireland, Fiji, and Hong Kong.
"Lastly, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that the provisions of the Covenant shall not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless and until they inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they are in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Covenant in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."
Upon ratification:

"Firstly the Government of the United Kingdom maintain their declaration in respect of article 1 made at the time of signature of the Covenant.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to apply to members of and persons serving with the armed forces of the Crown and to persons lawfully detained in penal establishments of whatever character such laws and procedures as they may from time to time deem to be necessary for the preservation of service and custodial discipline and their acceptance of the provisions of the Covenant is subject to such restrictions as may for these purposes from time to time be authorised by law.
"Where at any time there is a lack of suitable prison facilities or where the mixing of adults and juveniles is deemed to be mutually beneficial, the Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right not to apply article 10 (2) (b) and 10 (3), so far as those provisions require juveniles who are detained to be accommodated separately from adults, and not to apply article 10 (2) (a) in Gibraltar, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands in so far as it requires segregation of accused and convicted persons.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to interpret the provisions of article 12 (1) relating to the territory of a State as applying separately to each of the territories comprising the United Kingdom and its dependencies.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to continue to apply such immigration legislation governing entry into, stay in and departure from the United Kingdom as they may deem necessary from time to time and, accordingly, their acceptance of article 12 (4) and of the other provisions of the Covenant is subject to the provisions of any such legislation as regards persons not at the time having the right under the law of the United Kingdom to enter and remain in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom also reserves a similar right in regard to each of its dependent territories.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right not to apply article 13 in Hong Kong in so far as it confers a right of review of a decision to deport an alien and a right to be represented for this purpose before the competent authority.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right not to apply or not to apply in full the guarantee of free legal assistance in sub-paragraph (d) of paragraph 3 of article 14 in so far as the shortage of legal practitioners renders the application of this guarantee impossible in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Pitcairn Islands Group, St. Helena and Dependencies and Tuvalu.
"The Government of the United Kingdom interpret article 20 consistently with the rights conferred by articles 19 and 21 of the Covenant and having legislated in matters of practical concern in the interests of public order (ordre public) reserve the right not to introduce any further legislation. The United Kingdom also reserve a similar right in regard to each of its dependent territories.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to postpone the application of paragraph 3 of article 23 in regard to a small number of customary marriages in the Solomon Islands.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to enact such nationality legislation as they may deem necessary from time to time to reserve the acquisition and possession of citizenship under such legislation to those having sufficient connection with the United Kingdom or any of its dependent territories and accordingly their acceptance of article 24 (3) and of the other provisions of the Covenant is subject to the provisions of any such legislation.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right not to apply sub-paragraph (b) of article 25 in so far as it may require the establishment of an elected Executive or Legislative Council in Hong Kong [...].
"Lastly, the Government ofhe United Kingdom declare that the provisions of the Covenant shall not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless and until they inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they are in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Covenant in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."

Upon signature:

"First, the Government of the United Kingdom declare their understanding that, by virtue of article 103 of the Charter of the United Nations, in the event of any conflict between their obligations under article 1 of the Covenant and their obligations under the Charter (in particular, under articles 1, 2 and 73 thereof) their obligations under the Charter shall prevail.
"Secondly, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that they must reserve the right to postpone the application of sub-paragraph (a) (i) of article 7 of the Covenant in so far as it concerns the provision of equal pay to men and women for equal work, since, while they fully accept this principle and are pledged to work towards its complete application at the earliest possible time, the problems of implementation are such that complete application cannot be guaranteed at present.
"Thirdly, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that, in relation to article 8 of the Covenant, they must reserve the right not to apply sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 in Hong Kong, in so far as it may involve the right of trade unions not engaged in the same trade or industry to establish federations or confederations.
"Lastly, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that the provisions of the Covenant shall not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless and until they inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they are in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Covenant in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."
Upon ratification:

"Firstly, the Government of the United Kingdom maintain their declaration in respect of article 1 made at the time of signature of the Covenant.
"The Government of the United Kingdom declare that for the purposes of article 2 (3) the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Pitcairn Islands Group, St. Helena and Dependencies, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Tuvalu are deloping countries.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to interpret article 6 as not precluding the imposition of restrictions, based on place of birth or residence qualifications, on the taking of employment in any particular region or territory for the purpose of safeguarding the employment opportunities of workers in that region or territory.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to postpone the application of sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (a) of article 7, in so far as it concerns the provision of equal pay to men and women for equal work in the private sector in Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Bermuda, Hong Kong and the Solomon Islands.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right not to apply sub-paragraph 1(b) of article 8 in Hong Kong.
"The Government of the United Kingdom while recognising the right of everyone to social security in accordance with article 9 reserve the right to postpone implementation of the right in the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands because of shortage of resources in these territories.
"The Government of the United Kingdom reserve the right to postpone the application of paragraph 1 of article 10 in regard to a small number of customary marriages in the Solomon Islands and the application of paragraph 2 of article 10 in so far as it concerns paid maternity leave in Bermuda and the Falkland Islands.
"The Government of the United Kingdom maintain the right to postpone the application of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 2 of article 13, and article 14, in so far as they requirecompulsory primary education, in the Gilbert Islands, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
"Lastly the Government of the United Kingdom declare that the provisions of the Covenant shall not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless and until they inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they are in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Covenant in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."

Upon signature:

Subject to the following reservation and interpretative statements:
"First, in the present circumstances deriving from the usurpation of power in Rhodesia by the illegal régime, the United Kingdom must sign subject to a reservation of the right not to apply the Convention to Rhodesia unless and until the United Kingdom informs the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it is in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Convention in respect of that territory can be fully implemented.
"Secondly, the United Kingdom wishes to state its under- standing of certain articles in the Convention. It interprets article 4 as requiring a party to the Convention to adopt further legislative measures in the fields covered by sub-paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of that article only in so far as it may consider with due regard to the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the rights expressly set forth in article 5 of the Convention (in particular the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association) that some legislative addition to or variation of existing law and practice in those fields is necessary for the attainment of the end specified in the earlier part of article 4. Further, the United Kingdom interprets the requirement in article 6 concerning `reparation or satisfaction' as being fulfilled if one or other of these forms of redress is made available and interprets `satisfaction' as including any form of redress effective to bring the discriminatory conduct to an end. In addition it interprets article 20 and the other related provisions of Part III of the Convention as meaning that if a reservation is not accepted the State making the reservation does not become a Party to the Convention.
"Lastly, the United Kingdom maintains its position in regard to article 15. In its view this article is discriminatory in that it establishes arocedure for the receipt of petitions relating to dependent territories while making no comparable provision for States without such territories. Moreover, the article purports to establish a procedure applicable to the dependent territories of States whether or not those States have become parties to the Convention. Her Majesty's Government have decided that the United Kingdom should sign the Convention, these objections notwithstanding, because of the importance they attach to the Convention as a whole."
Upon ratification:

"First, the reservation and interpretative statements made by the United Kingdom at the time of signature of the Convention are maintained.
"Secondly, the United Kingdom does not regard the Commonwealth Immigrants Acts, 1962 and 1968, or their application, as involving any racial discrimination within the meaning of paragraph 1 of article 1, or any other provision of the Convention, and fully reserves its right to continue to apply those Acts.
"Lastly, to the extent if any, that any law relating to election in Fiji may not fulfil the obligations referred to in article 5 (c), that any law relating to land in Fiji which prohibits or restricts the alienation of land by the indigenous inhabitants may not fulfil the obligations referred to in article 5 (d) (v), or that the school system of Fiji may not fulfil the obligations referred to in articles 2, 3 or 5 (e) (v), the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply the Convention to Fiji."

"In accordance with paragraph 2 of article 56, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that they retain the right to tax salaries and emoluments paid by the Asian Development Bank to citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies."
In a letter transmitting the instrument of ratification, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, has made the following observations:
"Article 54 of the Agreement has the effect of affording Government telecommunication privileges to the Asian Development Bank. The list of persons and authorities entitled to such privileges in Annex 3 to the International Telecommunications Convention signed at Geneva on the 21st of December, 1959, does not include international organizations other than the United Nations. There is thus a clear conflict between article 54 and the Telecommunications Convention, to which the United Kingdom (and no doubt other members of the Asian Development Bank) is a party. The United Kingdom wishes to propose that this conflict be considered at an early meeting of the Board of Governors.
"Paragraph 1 of article 56 of the Agreement might perhaps be construed as allowing the Asian Development Bank complete exemption from all customs duties and taxes on goods without any qualification. It is current practice to accord relief from taxation on goods to international organizations only in respect of articles acquired in pursuance of the official activities of an organization, and, in the case of internal indirect taxes, only for substantial purchases where it is reasonably practicable to allow such relief. The Government of the United Kingdom consider that paragraph 1 of article 56 is to be construed in the light of current practice.
"[The Permanent Representative also has] the honour to inform you that it is the intention of the Government of the United Kingdom to seek from the Asian Development Bank:
"(a) An understanding that it will insure any motor vehicle belonging to, or operated on behalf of, the Bank against third party claims for damage arising from an accident caused by such a vehicle in the United Kingdom and that the immunity of the Bank from legal process under paragraph 1 of article 50 will not be asserted in the case of any civil action in the United Kingdom by a third party for damage arising from an accident caused by such a vehicle;
"(b) An understanding that no immunity under article 55 will be asserted in respect of any motor traffic offence committed by a member of the personnel of the Bank or in respect of damage caused by a motor vehicle belonging to, or driven by, him."

Upon signature:

"The United Kingdom will interpret the exemption accorded to members of a consular post by paragraph 3 of article 44 from liability to give evidence concerning matters connected with the exercise of their functions as relating only to acts in respect of which consular officers and consular employees enjoy immunity from the jurisdiction of the judicial or administrative authorities of the receiving State in accordance with the provisions of article 43 of the Convention."
Upon ratification:

Declaration:

"The United Kingdom hereby confirms its declaration in respect of paragraph 3 of article 44 of the Convention made at the time of signature, and further declares that it will interpret Chapter II of the Convention as applying to all career consular employees, including those employed at a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer."

"(a) . . .
"(b) It is the understanding of the Government of the United Kingdom that paragraph (1) of article 1 and the second sentence of article 2, of the Convention are concerned with entry into marriage under the laws of a State Party and not with the recognition under the laws of one State or territory of the validity of marriages contracted under the laws of another State or territory; nor is paragraph (1) of article 1 applicable to marriages by cohabitation with habit and repute under the law of Scotland;
"(c) Paragraph (2) of article 1 does not require legislative provision to be made, where no such legislation already exists, for marriages to be contracted in the absence of one of the parties;
"(d) The provisions of the Convention shall not apply to Southern Rhodesia unless and until the Government of the United Kingdom inform the Secretary-General that they are in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Convention in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."

"(1) In respect of article 5 (1) (b) and in accordance with article 5 (3) of the Convention, the United Kingdom will not apply, in respect of phonograms, the criterion of fixation;
"(2) In respect of article 6 (1) and in accordance with article 6 (2) of the Convention, the United Kingdom will protect broadcasts only if the headquarters of the broadcasting organisation is situated in another Contracting State and the broadcast was transmitted from a transmitter situated in the same Contracting State;
"(3) In respect of article 12 and in accordance with article 16 (1) of the Convention,
"(a) The United Kingdom will not apply the provisions of article 12 in respect of the following uses:
"(i) The causing of a phonogram to be heard in public at any premises where persons reside or sleep, as part of the amenities provided exclusively or mainly for residents or inmates therein except where a special charge is made for admission to the part of the premises where the phonogram is to be heard.
"(ii) The causing of a phonogram to be heard in public as part of the activities of, or for the benefit of, a club, society or other organisation which is not established or conducted for profit and whose main objects are charitable or are otherwise concerned with the advancement of religion, education or social welfare, except where a charge is made for admission to the place where the phonogram is to be heard, and any of the proceeds of the charge are applied otherwise than for the purposes of the organisation.
"(b) As regards phonograms the producer of which is not a national of another Contracting State or as regards phonograms the producer of which is a national of a Contracting State which has made a declaration under article 16 (1) (a) (i) stating that it will not apply the provisions of article 12, the United Kingdom will not grant the protection provided for by article 12, unless, in either event, the phonogram has been first published in a Contracting State which has made no such declaration."
28 March 2025

Declaration pursuant to article 16:

“[The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has] the honour to make the following new declaration in accordance with Article 16(1)(a)(iii):
As regards phonograms the producer of which is not a national of another Contracting State, the United Kingdom will not apply Article 12.
As regards the United Kingdom and the territories of the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Bermuda, this new declaration replaces the existing declaration made under Article 16(1)(a)(iii) and (iv) upon the United Kingdom’s ratification (namely declaration (3)(b)). As regards the territories of the Bailiwick of Jersey and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the existing declaration made under Article 16(1)(a)(iii) and (iv) upon the United Kingdom’s ratification (namely declaration (3)(b)) continues to apply.”

"[The Government of the United Kingdom declares that], in accordance with paragraph 3 (a) of Article 8 of the Convention, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 8, the United Kingdom retains the right to deprive a naturalised person of his nationality on the following grounds, being grounds existing in United Kingdom law at the present time: that, inconsistently with his duty of loyalty to Her Britannic Majesty, the person
"(i) Has, in disregard of an express prohibition of Her Britannic Majesty, rendered or continued to render services to, or received or continued to receive emoluments from, another State, or
"(ii) Has conducted himself in a manner seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of Her Britannic Majesty."

1 September 1964

"The Government of the United Kingdom do not regard as valid the reservation to paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the United Arab Republic. Further, the Government of the United Kingdom do not regard the statement concerning paragraph 1 of article 11 of the Convention made by the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as modifying any rights and obligations under that paragraph."
7 June 1967

"The Government of the United Kingdom do not regard the statement concerning paragraph 1 of article 11 of the Convention made by the Government of the Mongolian People's Republic as modifying any rights and obligations under that paragraph."
29 March 1968

"The Government of the United Kingdom do not regard the statement concerning paragraph 1 of article 11 of the Convention made by the Government of Bulgaria as modifying any rights and obligations under that paragraph."
19 June 1968

"The Government of the United Kingdom do not regard as valid the reservation to paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the Government of Cambodia."
23 August 1968

"The Government of the United Kingdom do not regard as valid the reservation to paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the Kingdom of Morocco."
10 December 1968

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not regard as valid the reservation to paragraph 2 of article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the Government of Portugal."
13 March 1973

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wish to put on record that they do not regard as valid the reservation to paragraph 3 of Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the Government of Bahrain."
16 April 1973

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wish to place on record that they do not regard the statement concerning paragraph 1 of Article 11 of the Convention made by the German Democratic Republic, in a letter accompanying the instrument of accession, as modifying any rights and obligations under that paragraph."
25 January 1977

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not regard as valid the reservations to paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations made by the People's Republic of China".
4 February 1977

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wish to place on record that they do not re- gard the reservation concerning paragraph 1 of article 11 of the Convention, made by the Government of Democratic Yemen, as modifying any rights or obligations under that paragraph."
19 February 1987

"The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wish to place on record that they do not regard as valid the reservations to paragraph 3 of article 27, and to paragraph 2 of article 37, of the Vienna Convention on Diplo- matic Relations made by the Government of the State of Qatar."

5 May 1980

"The United Kingdom will apply the Convention only to the recognition and enforcement of awards made in the territory of another Contracting State. This declaration is also made on behalf of Gibraltar, Hong Kong and the Isle of Man to which the Convention has been extended."

"In depositing their instrument of ratification . . . Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare that, save as may be stated in any further and separate notices that may hereafter be given, ratifica- tion of this Convention on behalf of the United Kingdom does not extend to the States in the Persian Gulf enjoying British protection. Multilateral conventions to which the United Kingdom becomes a party are not extended to these States until such time as an extension is requested by the Ruler of the State concerned."

"In depositing their instrument of ratification Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and North ern Ireland declare that, save as may be stated in any further and separate notices that may hereafter be given, ratification of this Convention on behalf of the United Kingdom does not extend to the States in the Persian Gulf enjoying British protection. Multilateral conventions to which the United Kingdom becomes a party are not extended to these States until such time as an extension is requested by the Ruler of the State concerned."

“Save as may be stated in any further and separate notices that may hereafter be given, ratification of this Convention on behalf of the United Kingdom does not extend to the States in the Persian Gulf enjoying British protection. Multilateral conventions to which the United Kingdom becomes a party are not extended to these States until such times as an extension is requested by the Ruler of the State concerned.”

Declaration:

"I have the honour further to state that the Government of the United Kingdom deposit the present instrument of ratification on the understanding that the combined effects of articles 36 and 38 permit them to include in any declaration or notification made under paragraph 1 of article 36 or paragraph 2 of article 36 respectively any reservation consistent with article 38 which the Government of the territory concerned might desire to make."
Reservations:

"When ratifying the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons which was opened for signature at New York on September 28, 1954, the Government of the United Kingdom have deemed it necessary to make certain reservations in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 38 thereof the text of which is reproduced below:
(1) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland understand Articles 8 and 9 as not preventing them from taking in time of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances measures in the interests of national security in the case of a stateless person on the ground of his former nationality. The provisions of Article 8 shall not prevent the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from exercising any rights over property or interests which they may acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated Power under a Treaty of Peace or other agreement or arrangement for the restoration of peace which has been or may be completed as a result of the Second World War. Furthermore, the provisions of Article 8 shall not affect the treatment to be accorded to any property or interests which at the date of entry into force of this Convention for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are under the control of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reason of a state of war which exists or existed between them and any other State.
(2) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in respect of such of the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 as fall within the scope of the National Health Service, can only undertake to apply the provisions of that paragraph so far as the law allows.
(3) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland cannot undertake to give effect to the obligations contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 25 and can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 3 so far as the law allows."
Commentary : "In connexion with sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 24 which relates to certain matters within the scope of the National Health Service, the National Health Service (Amendment) Act 1949 contains powers for charges to be made to persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain (which category would include some stateless persons) who receive treatment under the Service. These powers have not yet been exercised but it may be necessary to exercise them at some future date. In Northern Ireland the Health Services are restricted to persons ordinarily resident in the country except where regulations are made to extend the Services to others. For these reasons, the Government of the United Kingdom, while prepared in the future, as in the past, to give the most sympathetic consideration to the situation of stateless persons, find it necessary to make reservation to sub-paragraph (b) of Article 24.
"No arrangements exist in the United Kingdom for the administrative assistance for which provision is made in Article 25 nor have any such arrangements been found necessary in the case of stateless persons. Any need for the documents or certifications mentioned in paragraph 2 of that Article would be met by affidavit."

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accedes to the Convention with the following reservations submitted in accordance with article VII:
"(1) Article III is accepted subject to reservations, pending notification of withdrawal in any case, in so far as it relates to:
"(a) succession to the Crown;
"(b) certain offices primarily of a ceremonial nature;
"(c) the function of sitting and voting in the House of Lords pertaining to holders of hereditary peerages and holders of certain offices in the Church of England;
"(d) recruitment to and conditions of service in the armed forces;
"(e) jury service in Grenada, [...] as well as in the Kingdom of Tonga;
"(f) . . .
"(g) remuneration for women in the Civil Service of [...] Hong Kong, as well as of the Protectorate of Swaziland;
"(h) . . .
"(i) in the State of Brunei, the exercise of the royal powers, jury service or its equivalent and the holding of certain offices governed by Islamic Law.
"(2) The United Kingdom reserves the right to postpone the application of this Convention in respect of women living in the Colony of Aden, having regard to the local customs and tradi- tions. Further, the United Kingdom reserves the right not to apply this Convention to Rhodesia unless and until the United Kingdom informs the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it is in a position to ensure that the obligations imposed by the Convention in respect of that territory can be fully implemented."

"(i) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland understand articles 8 and 9 as not preventing them from taking in time of war or other grave and exceptional circumstances measures in the interests of national security in the case of a refugee on the ground of his nationality. The provisions of article 8 shall not prevent the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from exercising any rights over property or interests which they may acquire or have acquired as an Allied or Associated power under a Treaty of Peace or other agreement or arrangement for the restoration of peace which has been or may be completed as a result of the Second World War. Furthermore, the provisions of article 8 shall not affect the treatment to be accorded to any property or interests which at the date of entry into force of this Convention for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are under the control of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by reason of a state of war which exists or existed between them and any other State.
(ii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland accept paragraph 2 of article 17 with the substitution of "four years" for "three years" in sub-paragraph (a) and with the omission of sub-paragraph (c).
(iii) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in respect of such of the matters referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of article 24 as fall within the scope of the National Health Service, can only undertake to apply the provisions of that paragraph so far as the law allows; and it can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 2 of that Article so far as the law allows.
(iv) The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland cannot undertake to give effect to the obligations contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 25 and can only undertake to apply the provisions of paragraph 3 so far as the law allows.
Commentary
In connexion with sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of article 24 relating to certain matters within the scope of the National Health Service, the National Health Service (Amendment) Act, 1949, contains powers for charges to be made to persons not ordinarily resident in Great Britain (which category would include refugees) who receive treatment under the Service. While these powers have not yet been exercised it is possible that this might have to be done at some future date. In Northern Ireland the health services are restricted to persons ordinarily resident in the country except where regulations are made to extend the Service to others. It is for these reasons that the Government of the United Kingdom while they are prepared in the future, as in the past, to give the most sympathetic consideration to the situation of refugees, find it necessary to make a reservation to sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph 1 of article 24 of the Convention.
The scheme of Industrial Injuries Insurance in Great Britain does not meet the requirements of paragraph 2 of article 24 of the Convention. Where an insured person has died as the result of an industrial accident or a disease due to the nature of his employment, benefit cannot generally be paid to his dependants who are abroad unless they are in any part of the British Commonwealth, in the Irish Republic or in a country with which the United Kingdom has made a reciprocal agreement concerning the payment of industrial injury benefits. There is an exception to this rule in favour of the dependants of certain seamen who die as a result of industrial accidents happening to them while they are in the service of British ships. In this matter refugees are treated in the same way as citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and by reason of paragraphs 3 and 4 of article 24 of the Convention, the dependants of refugees will be able to take advantage of reciprocal agreements which provide for the payment of United Kingdom industrial injury benefits in other countries. By reason of paragraphs (3) and (4) of article 24 refugees will enjoy under the scheme of National Insurance and Industrial Injuries Insurance certain rights which are withheld from British subjects who are not citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.
No arrangements exist in the United Kingdom for the administrative assistance for which provision is made in article 25 nor have any such arrangements been found necessary in the case of refugees. Any need for the documents or certifications mentioned in paragraph 2 of that article would be met by affidavits."