TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 112

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moment to review big

and to bring up to date our overall policy.

Governors will then be able to conduct their

affairs in light of the considerations set out

in this despatch and to couch their advice to

locally elected Ministers accordingly.

It is my

intention that the policies set out in this

despatch should be given wide circulation in the

dependencies so that there should be no ambiguity concerning the position of Her Majesty's Government.

I shall therefore shortly be inviting Governors

to make available to locally-elected Ministers

or their or/their equivalent, copies of this despatch

In a form suitable for local consumption.

2.

Because of its special circumstances, Hong Kong

Scope

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is excluded from the purview of this despatch;

nor does it apply to the remaining West Indies

Associated States. It would, however, apply to

Anguilla if that island were to revert to the

status of a dependent territory. I bake this -

opportunity to acknowledge the contribution towards

the development of the policy set out in this.

despatch by Governors themselves, notably at the

conference of West Indies Governors in Bridgetown

uary and in a number of written communications.

It remains the clear general policy of the པར ཏེ མཁོ ted Kingdom to bring dependent territories, wheadsetim

where that is maccrlange will possible, to independence. In applying this pokies|

we are guided, however, by the principle that full

3.

account should be taken of the wishes of the people

the tenters, conarul

of each territory. No territory will be forced

against its will into independence or into

association or integration with any other country.

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