CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Bridgwood, Hong Kong & General Dept
20.6
POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1. Your minute of 11 June refers.
Reference
HKG 225/1737
23 JUN 1980
NO LOR I en
по
Mimante to LDB
2. We have only one point to make which concerns the second sentence of paragraph 3 of the Memorandum. We have in the past delegated responsibility to the Government of Belize in certain areas of external affairs. These have included some UN and Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM) matters. It is likely we will wish to consider further delegations, particularly in respect of regional political activities. Although you have pointed out in paragraph 1 of the Memorandum that some of the provisions do not apply to Belize, the present wording of the offending sentence is very precise and implies no exceptions at all. This might be corrected by replacing it with the following:
"It is not the intention to reverse those decisions, but only in exceptional circumstances will we now be prepared to agree to any further delegations in respect of these particular responsibilities."
3. Does the consensus referred to in paragraph 3 of your minute include Belizean Ministers? As there are political considerations affecting Belizean independence, this is a good reason for not showing them the Memorandum. Despite the qualification in paragraph 1 of the Memorandum I think there is a real danger that Belizean Ministers would over-react to parts of it.
19 June 1980
CC:
Mr Holmes, WIAD Mr Keith, SED Mr Davies, SAmD
CONFIDENTIAL
In Wkydd.
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Mexico & Caribbean Dept 233 3694 K 366