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Mr Stewart, Hong Kong Dept
Mr Willson, WIAD Mr Bullock, PDTD Mr Lewis, G&GD
CONFIDENTIAL
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HUMAN RIGHTS:
1.
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
You are probably already aware of the comparative assessment of the human rights performance of foreign governments which is currently being conducted by the Planning Staff on the instruction of Ministers. For ease of reference I attach a copy of the circular which has been sent out to the assessors.
2.
There was a consensus at the PUS's morning meeting on 11 February that the exercise should be extended to cover the record of the UK at home and also in dependent territories.
3. Overseas posts were specifically requested in drawing up the descriptions annexed to the circular, to take account of the situation in dependent territories for which the country concerned have responsibility. We do not think that it would be appropriate to do this in the case of the UK but would rather make a separate assessment of the UK's performance in its dependent territories. It would be excessive to have a report on each territory individually, but I have agreed with Mr Cortazzi that we shall need reports on dependent territories at least on a regional basis. I should accordingly be grateful if the recipients of this minute would draw up short reports as follows:
Mr Stewart
Mr Willson
Mr Bullock
Mr Lewis
Hong Kong
One report covering all the Caribbean and Atlantic dependent territories including the Falklands (consulting LAD as necessary). One report covering all the Pacific dependent territories.
Gibraltar.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.