TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 163

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

Your Ref: Our Ref:

408/2

1 May 1980

HKG 025/1

HING

02571

- 2 MAY 1980

J C Strong Esq CBE

Governor

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Dear Town,

No

MEMORANDUM ON POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1.

пув

I am writing to acknowledge with thanks your letter to Dick Stratton of 21 March about this paper. I am sorry that we have not been in touch before.

2. It was very helpful to have your comment about a possible misunderstanding in the Turks and Caicos on the timing of internal self-government and independence.

Of course, the

purpose of the paper in saying that there would be 'no standard timetable' was simply to underline that circumstances differed in the various territories. The gap between the two phases would certainly have to vary from place to place. But if it is decided to give the paper more general distri- bution we will of course ensure that your point is taken into account.

3. Your comments on the passage in the paper about aid are most helpful. It is of course not easy to find the right formula to cover all cases without fear of misinterpretation. As you say, the Turks and Caicos, like all the dependencies, have their special problems and characteristics. We will obviously have to look very carefully in order to see whether a paper which was approved by Ministers as the basis for guidance to OAGS can be given wider distribution without causing offence. In any case we will, of course, be in touch with you again before any decisions are taken.

Yous

Dich

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

2