(c)
- 3.
Those for which there are political or historical
obstacles to independence
In the Falkland Islands and Belize, British sovereignty is disputed by neighbouring states. Independence is not an option in Gibraltar since, under the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain must be given first refusal if Britain should give up sovereignty. Hong Kong is situated on land leased from China and there is no question of its becoming an independent state.
(d) Those unable to sustain independence due to remoteness/
lack of population/limited economies
Some Dependent Territories are not viable as Independent States. Pitcairn, with a population of about 60, and
the British Antarctic Territory and British Indian Ocean Territory with no permanent population are extreme examples of this.