BRALTAR
1.
Executive authority is vested in the Governor in consultation with the
Gibraltar Council, which consists of the Governor, four ex-officio members,
the Chief Minister and four other Ministers. There is also a Council of
Ministers consisting of the Chief Minister, and a number of other Ministers
(not less than four or more than eight) as may be prescribed by the
Governor, acting after consultation with the Chief Minister. The Council
of Ministers have responsibility for certain 'defined domestic matters' but
the Governor may intervene in support of his responsibilities for defence,
external affairs, internal security and to maintain financial stability.
2.
The Gibraltar House of Assembly elections on 29 September 1976 resulted
in a victory for Sir Joshua Hassan, leader of the Gibraltar Labour Party and
Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GLP/AACR). The GLP/AACR
has held office continuously since World War II apart from a break in
1969-1972.
3.
At the Referendum held in Gibraltar in September 1967 an overwhelming
majority voted 'voluntarily to retain their link with the United Kingdom,
with democratic local institutions and with the United Kingdom retaining
its present responsibilities', in preference to the alternative, which was
to pass under Spanish sovereignty in accordance with the terms proposed by
the Spanish Government in May 1966. When the decision to hold a Referendum
was announced in the House of Commons on 14 June 1967 it was made clear
that, if the people of Gibraltar voted to retain their link with the
United Kingdom they would retain the right at any future time to opt by
democratic means for joining Spain, in which event the British Government
would be ready to approach the Spanish Government accordingly.
4.
The same announcement indicated that, if the majority decided on the
retention of the existing connections with Britain, there would be sub-
sequent discussions about 'appropriate constitutional changes' which might
be desired. These were held in Gibraltar in July 1968.
5. In the Preamble to the Gibraltar Constitution Order in Council of May
1969 the British Government gave assurances that 'Gibraltar will remain
part of Her Majesty's dominions unless and until an Act of Parliament
/otherwise