TNAG-1117-FCO40-1391-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 172

CODE 18.77

Miss Blake-Pauley

Planning Staff W12A

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference........

بیدم الله

2519

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BRITAIN'S INTEREST IN THE COMMONWEALTH

1.

2.

16

Please refer to your minute of 15 January to Miss Brett Rooks.

HMG's general policy in regard to the Dependent Territories is to grant independence to those who request it but not to force it on those who do not. There are of course special political circumstances in the case of Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar. It is for the relevant geographical départments to advise about individual territories but I would hav thought that there was no role for the Commonwealth in regard to our Dependent Territories' future and therefore no need to mention the matter in the paper.

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3. We do not foresee any role for the Commonwealth in resolving the question of Hong Kong's future.

H McQuade

25 January 1982

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SED

SAMD

SEAD

SPD

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Hong Kong and General Department K247 233 4381

CONFIDENTIAL

HKG 025/1

Nu.

Sex

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