TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 25

- 2

There has been contact from time to time with the Governments of some

of the other Dependent Territories.

Of these, the British Virgin

Islands, the Cayman Islands, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha have

expressed no wish for independence. As Ascension Island has no

permanent inhabitants it will remain a dependency. Montserrat regards

independence as an ultimate goal but has expressed no desire for any

early moves in this direction. The Bermuda Government are keeping

the question under review. No discussions have taken place in the

case of Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Pitcairn Island.

As regards the West Indies Associated States, the Antiguan Government

obtained a mandate for early independence in the April 1980 elections

and a Constitutional Conference opened in London on 4 December to

discuss the details with all interested parties. The St Kitts-Nevis

Government have indicated that independence remains their long-term

goal, though they have not set a date. The Anguilla Bill to separate

Anguilla from the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis, whereby it

has today received would revert to full dependent status, ie now awafting Royal Assent.

The Anguilla Government have expressed no wish for an early move

towards independence, though possibilities of constitutional advance

are under consideration.