TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 171

Mr Murray`

10/4

CONFIDENTIAL

POLICY TOWARDS THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

HKG

025/1

XXY NO. 51

11 APR 1980

TALK OFFICER

INDEX

n

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

nyis

This

1. You asked about the origin of the attached paper. memorandum was primarily designed to cover the position of Dependent Territories, especially those in the West Indies, which are unlikely in the foreseeable future to attain inde- pendence. The paper was submitted to Ministers last autumn, held up because of their preoccupation with the Rhodesia crisis, and eventually agreed by the Secretary of State in December.

2. The paper was sent to OAGS in February under cover of a letter from Mr Stratton. This explained that the policy out- lined did not refer to the "political" dependencies such as Hong Kong and Gibraltar. It also invited comments, particularly on whether the memorandum should be given further distribution. One point is whether it or a version should be given to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.

3. A number of comments have been received. It is clear that, if the paper were to be given a wider distribution, a number of amendments would be necessary and in particular that a more definite disclaimer on behalf of the "political" territories may be necessary in the preamble. We will be submitting when

all comments are in.

121

10 April 1980

Kalen

Бир

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

CONFIDENTIAL