TNAG-0714-FCO40-910-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 176

CONFIDENTIAL

R+1.5.5.18/1

Mr Jasper HONG KONG & GENERAL DEPARTMENT

HKG 025/2 нка

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 16 JAN 1978

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY Action Taken

INDEX

PA

Yus JJ.

&

REVIEW OF POLICY ON ACCELERATED DECOLONIZATION

In his minute to you of 11 January Mr Sanders said that detailed comments from relevant Regional Directors of Research Department would follow.

2.

Asian Region of RD can only comment on the Pacific dependencies (Hong Kong, which is very much our concern, being ruled out).

3. We have four points to make, which run beyond the simple question of whether decolonization will leave economically viable entities. You have pro- bably thought of them all already.

i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

Security. We must take into account the effect on our own close defence allies (ie Australia and New Zealand) of leaving the terri- tories open to potential encroachment by those inimical (or poten- tially so) to our own and our allies' defence interests (ie USSR and China).

Racial problems. In those areas where there are very mixed populations (eg Solomons) who are still in dispute over land owner- ship we can hardly, with honour, leave new mini-states with such problems to sort out on their own as their first internal political problem.

Disputed Sovereignty.

In those cases where we administer but where the US asserts a claim to sovereignty (parts of the Line Islands) we should not decently retreat before the dispute is resolved. (I understand we are in discussion with the US over Phoenix Island).

Fisheries. With the intended declaration of 200-mile economic zones by the island groups, we ought to make sure that any potential quarrels about overlaps are resolved before we go. At present this appears to affect only fisheries; if it were resolved it would presumably extend to future sea-bed resources.

А.С.Майшал

13 January 1978

cc Miss Binns

PLANNING STAFF

Mr Posnett

Mr Stewart

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES ADVISER

HKGD

Mr Quantrill HKGD

CONFIDENTIAL

HC Hainworth Asian Region Research Department