CONFIDENTIAT, ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
the visit
of the Governor in November last year led on almost immediately to preparation of the planning paper in expectation of the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong. Mr Duffy's recent experience during secondment to the Hong Kong government is much in demand. Mr Janvrin is a new entrant who has been given a considerable measure of responsibility and has found the load heavy but rewarding. A major element in the workload of both desks are PQs and MPs letters; the department answered 126 PQs and 42 MPs' Letters on Hong Kong during the period 22 October 1974 to 12 November 1975 and has already answered 62 PQs and 18 MPs' Letters since 1 January this year.
Indian Ocean Section
DS 6
DS 7
DS 9
B.
V A Major
SG Hinton
N J Horne
HEO (ODM)
Mrs C B Johnson
Mrs H M Birch
EO (ODM)
Responsibilities
11.
Mr Major has listed his responsibilities as Seychelles political matters, progress towards Seychelles independence, the arrangement of Seychelles independence celebrations, winding up the British Indian Ocean territory and providing for the future administration of Diego Garcia, and the resettlement of former islanders of Diego Garcia. All except the last will culminate in Seychelles independence on 29 June this year.
The independence operation has included
(i)
two rounds of constitutional talks and an Electoral Review Commission
(ii) tripartite talks on the return to the Seychelles
of the BIOT islands of Adabra, Desroches and Farquhar.
Preparations for these were particularly detailed and arduous because a number of interests (Defence, Overseas Development etc) were involved and all the Departments concerned had to be consulted at every step.
4.
CONFIDENTIAL/ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE
/12.