164. Communications on matters involving issues of substance, particularly those involving political considerations, and communications on matters involving United Kingdom interests shall be addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, or to the British Embassy or British High Commission in the capital of the country concerned; in the latter case a copy should be sent to the Secretary of State.
165. There shall be no direct communication with the authorities in Rhodesia. All communications from Governments relating to Rhodesia shall be sent to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as should any communications received by Governments from the illegal authorities in Rhodesia.
G. Consulates
166. Correspondence of a routine nature from a Government to a British Consular Officer may be signed by the appropriate responsible officer. Com- munications on important matters of policy shall be signed by the Governor, if the addressee is a British Consul-General, or the Chief Secretary, if the addressee is a British Consul.
167. Correspondence from a Government to a foreign Consular Officer shall be signed by the Chief Secretary unless the subject matter is of a routine nature in which case the appropriate responsible officer may sign on his behalf.
H. Individuals
168. Any person in a territory has the right to make representations to the Governor on matters of a public or private nature, and in exercising this right shall address the Governor through the Chief Secretary. The duty of the Governor is to consider and act upon each such representation as public expediency or justice to the individual may appear to require, with the assistance in certain cases of his Executive Council; and if he doubts what steps to take thereupon, or if public advantage may appear to require it, he shall refer the matter to the Secretary of State.
169. Any person in a territory has the right to address the Secretary of State, if he thinks proper; in which case he shall transmit his communication, un- sealed and in triplicate, to the Governor, requesting him to forward it in due course to the Secretary of State. Every letter, memorial, or other docu- ment which may be received by the Secretary of State from a Territory other- wise than through the Governor will be referred back to the Governor for his report or return to the sender.
170. The preceding rule requiring transmission of correspondence with the Secretary of State through the Governor is based on the strongest grounds of public convenience, in order that all communications may be duly verified, as well as reported on, before they reach the Secretary of State. It extends there- fore to communications relating to public affairs as well as to the concerns of the writer, and to those from public bodies.
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