TNAG-0597-FCO40-744-Future-of-Dependent-Territories-territorial-studies-1977 — Page 28

TERRITORY

GIBRALTAR

LIKELY DATE OF INDEPENDENCE

Not applicable

GILBERT ISLANDS

During 1979

HONG KONG

Not applicable

MONTSERRAT

Unforeseeable

PITCAIRN

Not applicable

ST HELENA

Unforeseeable

ASCENSION ISLAND

Not applicable

TRISTAN DA CUNHA

Not applicable

COMMENT

Independence is not an option since, under the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain must be given first refusal if Britain should give up sovereignty. Subject to the foregoing, HMG have said that it is for the Gibraltarians to decide their own future.

Internal self-government since 1 January 1977. Independence Conference in 1978.

Independence is not an option owing to special relationship with regard to the People's Republic of China.

A

An advanced Ministerial Constitution has been in force since 1960. visiting UN Mission was assured in 1975 that the people were happy as they were. They have no desire for independence.

The population numbers only 60 and no constitu- tional advance is possible.

The territory is admin- istered by the Governor through Executive and Legislative Councils. There have been no con- stitutional changes since 1967 and there is no local pressure for independence.

This is a dependency of St Helena which has a local Administrator responsible to the Governor of St Helena. There is no indigenous population.

This is a dependency of St Helena having a local Administrator responsible to the Governor of St Helena. He is advised by an elected Island Council. The population numbers only 300 and there is no fore- seeable possibility of constitutional advance.