RESTRICTED
DSR 11C
DRAFT BACKGROUND NOTE
1. The remaining British Dependent Territories are:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British
Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman
Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar,
Hong Kong, Montserrat, Pitcairn Group of Islands, St Helena
and Dependencies, Turks and Caicos Islands.
2. Political development stops short of full internal self-
government where territories choose to remain dependent or
where independence is not an option. In such cases, the S
British Government, through the Governor, retains overall
responsibility for:
i. external affairs;
ii.
defence;
iii.
internal security;
iv.
3.a.Anguilla:
v.
administration of the public service;
judiciary.
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
some years.
b. 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;
process
c.British Antarctic Territory: No indigenous population. BAT is
administered by a High Commissioner resident in the Falkland Islands. d.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. e.British Virgin Islands: Ministerial system of Government with the Governor retaining the usual reserved powers. No present indication
of wish for independence.
Actenced form of