CONFIDENTIAL
ELECTORAL MATTERS. WE NOW AWAIT A CONSIDERED RESPONSE FROM THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH A CONFERENCE.
RECOMMENDATIONS FALLING WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT. (LAST 9 WORDS UNDERLINED)
THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FIELD OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS WHICH FALL WITHIN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT UNDER THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY DEVOLVED POWERS HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DETAILED STUDY BY THE RELEVANT BERMUDA GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH FROM THE THRONE ON 26 OCTOBER (A COPY OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN THE LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE) SHOWS THAT THEY INTEND TO FULFIL THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS
AND THAT IN MANY CASES ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT IN HAND ALONG THE LINES RECOMMENDED BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION.
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RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH INVOLVE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.(LAST 5 WORDS UNDERLINED)
A) INTERNAL SECURITY THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT HAVE ACCEPTED IN FRINCIPLE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A COMMITTEE AIMED AT STRENGTHENING BERMUDA'S SECURITY FORCES OVER THE NEXT TWO (OR THREE?) YEARS WITH THE ULTIMATE OBJECT OF ENABLING THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH INTERNAL SECURITY PROBLEMS WITHOUT RECOURSE TO REINFORCEMENTS --- FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM (NOTE: THE GOVERNOR WILL OF COURSE CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR INTERNAL SECURITY.) B) THE POLICE - THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT ARE GIVING CAREFUL CONSIDER- ATION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE POLICE INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A POLICE AUTHORITY AND AN INCREASED RATE OF LOCALISATION. WE EXPECT TO DISCUSS THESE MATTERS WITH THEM WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR OWN EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSALS. C) CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ENDORSE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT A CONFERENCE SHOULD BE HELD TO DISCUSS A NUMBER OF ELECTORAL ISSUES WHICH COULD INVOLVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (REDRAWING OF CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES, ABOLITION OF THE COMMONWEALTH RESIDENTIAL VOTE, LOWERING OF THE VOTING AGE TO 18, AND SIMPLER REGISTRATION ARRANGEMENTS). I HOPE THE BERMUDA GOVERNMENT WILL LET US HAVE THEIR PROPOSALS ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CONFERENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WILL HMG TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR POINT OF VIEW IS MADE CLEAR AT SUCH A CONFERENCE? (LAST 18 WORDS UNDERLINED)
2 CONFIDENTIAL
/YES
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