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process completed 1973. Territory administered by Her Majesty's Commissioner for BIOT, who is Head of the East African Department of
co.
British Virgin Islands:
Ministerial system of Government with the
Governor retaining the usual reserved powers. No present indication
of wish for independence.
Cayman Islands: A membership, or embryo Ministerial, system. Cayman islanders believe present constitution well suited to circumstances
and resist moves towards independence.
Falkland Islands: Governor has full powers, but there are Executive
and Legislative Councils. Overriding political issue is dispute with
Argentina. Islanders resist Argentine claim to sovereignty; want to
remain British. No pressure for independence.
Gibraltar: Ministerial system of government; Governor has usual reserved powers. Independence not an option for political reasons
(Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht: if Gibraltar ceases to be a UK
dependency, Spain has first claim on territory). 1967 referendum
confirmed overwhelmingly Gibraltarians' wish to retain UK connections.
Hong Kong: Constitutional advance hampered by fact that lease ceding
New Territories to UK expires in 1997. Hong Kong has Executive and Legislative Councils (appointed members only) which advise Governor.
Montserrat: A Ministerial system of Government; very few powers remain to Governor. No indications of wish to proceed to independence; but this could change at any time.
The Islands of Pitcairn, Ducie, Oeno and Henderson: Only Pitcairn inhabited; population 70. Governor (resident in New Zealand) has full powers;
Islanders elect their own representative, Island Magistrate. Independence not feasible.
St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha): Governor has full powers; advised by Legislative and Executive Councils. Administrators of Tristan da Cunha and Ascension, with equally full powers, are responsible to the Governor of St Helena. Independence probably not feasible for St Helena and Tristan, nor do people want it. Ascension has no indigenous population.
Turks and Caicos Islands: A Ministerial system of Government; Governor retains usual reserved powers. General election held on 4 November,
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