TNAG-0592-FCO40-725-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-and-Indian-Ocean-Department-1976 — Page 78

DOMENIULED / MUTINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

GIBRALTAR AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT

REPORT BY MR M H MORGAN, MR J PLANT

AND MISS H V TAGGART

DECEMBER 1975

PART II

General Section (excluding ILO and Advisers)

DS 5 DS 9

Responsibilities

BE Pauncefort PF Whiten

The responsibilities of the General section were defined as follows in a departmental note of 2 May 1975 for the guidance of Officers Administering Governments and Administrative Officers.

"General section has an advisory and co-ordination

role within the department and the Joint Dependent Territories Division.

From the precedents it has compiled, by library research and reference to experts, the section offers advice on constitutional matters and subjects of common interest to the Dependent Territory depart- ments. It is the collation point for the views of Dependent Territories departments on general subjects where an overall Dependent Territories Division opinion is to be formed and presented.

When FCO functional departments (such as Marine and Transport, United Nations, Nationality and Treaty etc) wish to raise subjects direct with Officers Administering Governments they generally clear their letters with the General section, who monitor the subsequent correspondence. General section has, however, itself initiated guidance and advice to Officers Administering Governments direct: eg on Hijacking, Law of the Sea, etc. It is also the functional department for International Labour Organisation matters affecting Dependent Territories (as well as for the Associated States and Brunei), maintaining close liaison with the political departments concerned and the Overseas Labour Adviser. It is also the agency for

/correspondence

RESTRICTED/ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE