TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 167

CODE 18-77

SS 10 76

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Bickford

Legal Advisers

RECEIV

HKG 025/2

Reference............

HKG 025/2

STRY NO. 51

20 JAN 1978

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

Action Taken

PA

No

J.J.

все

14

12

REVIEW OF POLICY OF ACCELERATED DECOLONISATION

1. At our chance meeting today I mentioned, amongst other things, that we are engaged in a review of the

'accelerated decolonisation' policy as referred (but never clearly defined) in the then Secretary of State's despatch HX 2/1 of 13 June 1975.

2.

I attach a copy of the outline of a draft paper with my minute of 9 January together with comments of Research and Planning Departments.

3. I think that we are all agreed that we need to focus in particular on Bermuda, BVI, Caymans, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos as they appear to be reluctant to move towards independence. Mr Dale WIAD is at present preparing a paper on these territories which will be incorporated in the final paper.

4.

I would welcome any thoughts you may have regarding possible ways to encourage DTs to move towards independence. You floated the idea, I recollect, of sending in a Consultant to consider the benefits of Tax Havenry for Turks and Caicos and Montserrat? We also wondered if there were ways of building up the infrastructure of DTs

so that they would be adequately staffed and have allowed acquired the expertise to deal with their affairs at home and abroad when they reach independence.

5. Any comments in however rough a form would be most useful.

J S Jasper

19 January 1978

Hong Kong and General Department K270

233-4069

CONFIDENTIAL