TNAG-0834-FCO40-1042-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Office-seminar-on-the-future-of-Bri-1979 — Page 257

Mir Duff, WIAD

UNCLASSIFIED

R-

Beminar file

(A

4

1.

Thank you for your note on the Cook Islands constitution.

2. As you say, the constitution contains nothing about the right of the Cook Islands to move to full independence but as I under- stand it, they have complete legislative autonomy and they may amend the constitution, subject to the provisions laid down, as they wish and thus revoke constitutional links with New Zealand without reference to the New Zealand Government.

22 February 1979

A E Clarke

Hong kong and General Department

271 233 4377

HKG.025/4

i nov njzent