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
HKG 025/2
CURRENT STATE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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.
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.
process
British Antarctic Territory: No indigenous population. BAT is administered by a High Commissioner resident in the Falkland Islands. 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.
CONFIDENTIAL
/Cayman