TNAG-1117-FCO40-1391-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 28

CODE 18-77

*

Mr Bridges HKGD

Reference

(49)

1KG 025/1

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LETTER FROM MR LEVESQUE

Please refer to your minute of17 November enclosing a cony of a letter from Mr Lévesque about the nolitical status of Dependent Territories.

1.

2. There has been no recent change in the political status of the British Indian Ocean Territory. (Background: the BIOT comprises those islands which together form the Chagos Archipelago. The Chagos Islands were ceded to Britain in 1814 and have remained British territory since. In 1965 the Mauritius Council of Ministers agreed to the detachment of these islands to form part of the BIOT and to their being made available for the defence purposes of Britain and the US. When the islands are no longer so required, they will be ceded to Mauritius).

19 November 1982

D. Campbell

D I Campbell

East African Department K 301

233 4685