8507 D.073939 200M, 11/74 Cr.P.C. Gp.839/3
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
does not necessarily suit another; but most have now adopted ministerial systems of government, and since February 1974 the process of constitutional advance in many of them has been stead. The Seychelles now aim to achieve independence by July 1976. Internal self- government will be introduced into the Solomon Islands by the end of this year, with independence in view thereafter. In the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, the immediate consequence of the UN-observed referendum of 1974 is that the Ellice Islands will separate.from the Colony by the end of this year to form the new territory of Tuvalu. The Gilberts are thereafter expected to move towards internal self-government and independence. Before this occurs, a solution must be found to problems posed by the request of the Banaban community for their ancestral home, Ocean Island, to be separated from the Gilberts, and this is currently under discussion with the parties involved. The British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands are in the process of considering new Constitutions which are designed to give the elected members of their Legislatures greater responsibility for the conduct of Government business. In the Condominium of the New Hebrides, agreement was reached with the French Government in November 1974 that a Representative Assembly mainly elected by universal suffrage with new powers and responsibilities will replace the present Advisory Committee by the end of 1975.
1144. While constitutional progress has been made in
such territories, there are constraints on our freedom of manoeuvre in others. Sovereignty claims by third parties to Gibraltar, Belize and the Falkland Islands inhibit further constitutional advance.
The circum- and time can, in this case he no stances of Hong Kong are unique in that the New
quiston of Ferritories, which comprise more than mine-tenths of the tatal Colony, are held under lease from the Chinese Government. This precludes any move towards independence. However, HMG have every confidence in the continuing development of Hong Kong in the fore- seeable future and will continue to administer it in
the interests of the four million inhabitants who have thosen to live there.
With
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