CONFIDENTIAL
NAMES OF THE REMAINING UK DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
Anguilla
Belize
Bermuda
British Antarctic Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands and Dependencies
Gibraltar
Hong Kong
Montserrat
Pitcairn, Ducie, Oeno and Henderson
St Helena and Dependencies
Turks and Caicos Islands
1981
h15
HKG 025/2
CURRENT STATE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
p: 6,500
Anguilla:
Anguilla was formally separated from St Kitts-Nevis in December 1980 and is now a dependent territory on its own. It has a
reasonably advanced constitution and Ministerial form of Government. The present Government sees independence as the ultimate goal but not
for another ten years.
1000
Belize:
Internal self-government since 1964 but Governor responsible
for external affairs, defence, internal security and the public service. Independence hampered by Guatemala's claim to Belize. Negotiations are
in train but their content is confidential. Belizean independence based
on a negotiated settlement of the dispute, is the best possible all-round
solution; but independence cannot be delayed indefinitely.
Bermuda: Constitution very advanced although short of internal self- government; Governor retains standard reserved powers. 1979 White Paper concluded independence not the wish of most Bermudians; unlikely to be
an issue at next election due before May 1981.
Nou British Antarctic Territory: No indigenous population. BAT is
administered by a High Commissioner resident in the Falkland Islands.
JoDuba Cy British Indian Ocean Territory: No permanent population. Former plantation workers, who were semi-migrants, moved to Mauritius; completed 1973. Territory administered by Her Majesty's Commissioner for BIOT, who is Head of the East African Department of FCO. British Virgin Islands: Ministerial system of Government with the Governor retaining the usual reserved powers. No present indication
of wish for independence.
process
CONFIDENTIAL
/Cayman