TNAG-0715-FCO40-911-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-4 — Page 13

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the Americans the future of the three ex-Seychelles islands, Farquhar, Desroches and Aldabra which are at present unused by us apart from the scientific station on Aldabra. Whether it will be possible to give them back to Seychelles is now being considered at Ministerial level.

iii. St Helena/Ascension Island. The latter, which has no

b.

i.

ii.

indigenous population, is an important communications centre which we share with the United States, who also have an air base on the island which is used as a staging post by the RAF;

the former is an important relay station in the Diplomatic Wireless network.

Those Dependent Territories which are in any case likely to have to remain dependent for the foreseeable future because

of extraneous factors: -

Hong Kong. Our freedom of action is limited by our bilateral relations with China. The political and economic position of Hong Kong is unique; it has been the established policy

of successive British Governments that the constitutional

status quo should be maintained, and that Hong Kong, which

pays for itself apart from a proportion of the substantial defence costs, should be encouraged to develop as a place where the present overwhelmingly Chinese population wish to

live and work.

Gibraltar. Claimed by Spain, but HMG are bound by the Constitution not to surrender sovereignty to another state against the wishes of the population - who have at present no incentive or desire to join Spain.

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EXEMPTION No 27(1)(a)(b)(c.).

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