TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 65

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Duff, WIAD

HKG-025/1

RECOVERY

DECOLONISATION DESPATCH

NO

19 JUL 1979

8248 1829

+8!

28

Now see (37) 1. I attach a new, much simplified version of the draft despatch to Governors re-stating the British Government policy towards the future of the Dependent Territories. Following the change of Government, it is no longer possible to use Mr Callaghan's 1975 despatch as the peg to hang the new despatch on; I have instead, as you will see, begun by referring to the decision of the Caribbean Governors' conference that they would welcome

I have omitted a new statement of Government policy.

much from the earlier drafts that, on closer examin- ation, turned out to be mostly statements of the obvious. In the new draft I have tried to concentrate on those few areas in which there seem to be doubts about current policy. I should be grateful for your comments and those (if any) of copy addressees.

5 July 1979

WE Quantrill

Hong Kong and General Department K247 233 4381

cc: Mr Pettit, SPD

Mr Duggan, SAMD

Mr Gordon, SED

Mr Percival, M&CD

CONFIDENTIAL