TNAG-0433-FCO40-498-Interest-of-UK-parliamentary-groups-in-Hong-Kong-affairs-1974 — Page 7

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Secretary is directly responsible to Parliament for the

administration of the dependent territories and his

policies can be and are debated upon the floor of the

House. However, when the Foreign and Commonwealth

Secretary has informed Parliament of his plans for

bringing certain dependent territories to independence

over a period of time, it can be plausibly argued that

the House would be better informed on progress in the

carrying out of these policies, and better equipped

eventually to debate proposals for independence, if

Mr Ennals's proposed Select Committee were in existence

always provided that the Committee could attract as

members persons with not only an interest in, but

some knowledge of, colonial administration and thre

conditions in the dependencies generally. No doubt

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers would have

to devote additional time to giving evidence before

such a Select Committee, but that should ensure that

the Committee's Reports and recommendations would be

based upon the most authentic information and guidance

obtainable.

6. Against these advantages the appointment of a

Select Committee on the Dependent Territories would

appear to have the following disadvantages from the

point of view of the Government:

(a) The Committee would by its terms of reference

have the right to consider policy and its conduct

in respect of Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands,

Belize and Hong Kong all territories which are

the subject of disputes with other Governments.

HMG's relations with the Governments of Spain,

/Guatemala,

CONFIDENTIAL