TNAG-1108-FCO40-1359-Ministerial-and-official-visits-to-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 25

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Minister

are

you content?

Yes may

Private Secretary

Seppotary

8

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Mr. Grande

2.J.

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

ther Cliff (Hund) Thankyn. The STS hernet Lean himself,

PS/1 Marten

PSTA

Is M. Marter content with this amount?

MR MARTEN'S VISIT TO WEST INDIES

A 1.

fittings

9/6.

7/6.

fuitdres

In paragraph 3 of his report dated 11 May 1982, Mr Marten

commented that the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands

would appreciate the chance to comment on the candidates proposed

for the impending appointments of Attorney-General and Governor

before they are publicly announced.

2. The Attorney-General is appointed by the Governor in his

discretion under the Turks and Caicos Islands (Constitution) Order

1976. The post of Attorney-General in the Turks and Caicos Islands

has been prescribed by the Secretary of State under Colonial Regulation

19 (attached) as being subject to his approval. As a matter of

administrative practice, the Governor must therefore obtain the

Secretary of State's approval (which is exercised by Hong Kong and

General Department on the Secretary of State's behalf) before he,

the Governor, makes the appointment. In this case the Governor

asked the department to recommend a candidate. Mr D G Lang was

recommended on 12 March 1982 and accepted by the Governor.

took up his appointment on 3 June.

3.

Mr Lang

There is no legal or constitutional objection to the Governor

consulting the local Government, to the extent of which he may deem

appropriate, before an appointment is made to the Office of Attorney-

General. It is our general policy, however, that this should be left

to the Governor's discretion and no official undertaking can be

given in this regard. In any case Mr Strong will by now have informed his Government of Mr Lang's appointment. No public

announcement is made by the FCO in the case of appointments of

Attorney-General.

4.

Governors' appointments are the prerogative of The Queen, acting on the advice of the Secretary of State. It is not our policy

HKA 6926/L

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STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

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