RESTRICTED
BRITISH ANTARCTIC TERRITORY
1. The Dependency which covers all islands and territories lying between 200 and 800 W longitude south of 600 South
latitude, was established by Order-in-Council on 3 March 1962,
to separate those areas of the Falkland Islands Dependencies (as
previously constituted) falling under the provisions of the
Antarctic Treaty (BAT) from those which do not (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands).
Prospects for Independence
2. As there is no indigenous population the question of
independence does not arise.
Sovereignty Disputes
3.
British sovereignty over the area is based on British
acts of discovery between 1819 and 1843, accompanied by formal
claims in the name of the British Crown and followed by acts of
administration displaying sovereignty over many decades. Britain
was the first country to claim sovereignty in Antarctica.
Argentina and Chile have claims which overlap areas of BAT, but
they declined our invitation to test their claims before the
International Court in 1955. Disputes on sovereignty issues
are in effect set aside by the Antactic Treaty (see below).
Government
4.
BAT is administered by the High Commissioner, who, for the
sake of convenience, resides in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.
The present High Commissioner is Sir Rext Hunt (concurrently
Civil Commissioner, Falkland Islands).
The Antarctic Treaty
5. The whole of BAT falls within the area covered by the
Antarctic Treaty. The Treaty, which covers the area South of 600 Latitude, was signed in Washington on 1 December 1959, and entered into force on 23 June 1961. The Treaty remains in force
indefinitely, though it contains provision for review, if any
Consultative Party so requests, after it has been in force for
30 years. There were 12 original signatories (who are all 'Çonsultatiye Parties'). Other states have acceded subsequently.