HX 311/501/1
UNCLASSIFIED
7)
plw previous paper
Muural Reports.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
15 October, 1976.
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Dear Officer Administering the Government
ANNUAL REPORTS
1.
One of the amendments to Colonial Regulations enclosed with the Secretary of State's circular despatch of 12 October is the deletion of CRs 151 (e) and 152 concerning the obligation to produce Annual Reports on your territory. I am writing separately on this issue because I would like you to know the background to this decision and also to make some comments on the general question of the Annual Report.
2.
Let me say at the outset that it is the requirement to produce these Reports which is being removed, and with it their publication by HMSO. There is no objection whatever to their being produced by those territories who so wish and publication likewise will be left to your discretion. The Hong Kong Report, which is in a class by itself, will doubtless be in this category.
3. The inordinate delay in publication of many of the Reports has been a major factor in our deciding to drop them. Although first drafts are often produced fairly soon, some Reports have not reached publication for up to six years after the period to which they relate. Much of the general information is available in other forms notably that provided under Article 73(e) of the UN Charter. (Territories whose Reports are tailored to Article 73(e) requirements will need to continue with them for this purpose but we do not propose to arrange for publication. Alternatively, the UN pro-forma could be adopted.), Major events in the territory which might not be recorded except in the Annual Reports could be mentioned in your annual review despatch to the Secretary of State.
4.
On balance therefore it was thought best to drop the requirement from Colonial Regulations and I trust this slight lessening of the burden will be welcome.
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Lunny
E G Lewis
Gibraltar and General Department
C.C.
WIAD
HKD
Distribution:
Bermuda
Falkland Islands
Belize
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Gibraltar
Gilbert Islands
Hong Kong
Montserrat
Wellington (for Pitcairn) St Helena
Ascension Island
Tristan da Cunha
Solomon Islands
Turks & Caicos Islands Tuvalu
New Hebrides
UNCLASSIFIED
PDTD
Caribbean Dept
Library & Records Dept
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