AASARANA
Mr Deare WIAD
• 11sc cu HKG 025/
"
MKA 026/
Reference.
*
2 8 APR 1981
OFFICER
INDEX
PA
TRY
13
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES:
1.
© & HIE 025/
PROPOSED MEETING BIETWEEN WLA „AND HIKOD
In your minutes of 23 February to Mr Clift, you commented at some length on my reports of 4 February, following the Conference of Caribbean Governors and the subsequent visits which I made to Anguilla, BVI, Caymans and TCI.
2.
Whilst there was much in my reports with which you agreed, there were a number of points with which you took issue. I fully recognise that an 'outsider' visiting another department's territory is bound to make observations based on superficial knowledge and is in danger of drawing the wrong conclusions. However, much of what I said in my reports was based on the views expressed to me by the Governors concerned and did not necessarily reflect my own personal opinion on each and every issue. I doubt that there is much point in continuing the dialogue in written form, and Mr Clift has suggested that it would be useful for our two departments to get together to discuss some of the issues raised in the papers mentioned above.
3.
Preoccupation with Hong Kong has prevented our pursuing this any earlier. However, we will not want to delay a meeting for much longer and as Mr Clift will be in Hong Kong from 8 - 22 May, I suggest that we try and meet during the week beginning 4 May. The previous week is difficult for us and so might I suggest Tuesday 5 May at a time convenient to you.
4.
a)
Possible topics for discussion are as follows:
the recommendations on future conferences of Caribbean Governors (paragraph 10 of my minute of 4 February);
b) annual leave for Governors;
c)
d)
policy towards the Dependent Territories particularly as regards the relationship between residual powers and the time-table for independence;
the de-localisation of certain senior posts, e.g. Deputy Governor and Attorney-General in BVI, and the re-instatement of UK based deputy posts, e.g. Chief Secretary, Anguilla.
5. On our side, the participants would be Mr Clift, Mr Hall, Miss Brett Rooks and myself. Perhaps a similar number could come from WIAD.
I should like to use the meeting to try and reconcile our different views on certain points as recorded in the exchange of minutes.
6.
BU 15.
CODE 18-77
SS 8/78
14 April 1981
cc:
Mr Clift
Mr Patterson POD
L
P Morrice
Hong Kong and General Department
CONFIDENTIAL