TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 19

CONFIDENTIAL

9. Mr Moody pointed out that it was the Governor's personal view that in Gibraltar's case, the reserved powers were very difficult to

Even use and seen by the Territory's government as a hollow threat. if a Governor chose to resort to them, he would encounter difficulties with their implementation. Miss Anderson referred to a

Mr Wallace admitted that similar problem in the Falkland, Islands.

the exercise of residual powers might pose special problems in a politically sophisticated DT. But there were recent examples of their use as a means to draw DT governments into line.

He referred

to examples in St Helena and TCI; Miss Eddis cited a less extreme case in BVI over the Puisne judge issue. Mr Moody suggested that such threats would have less effect in the case of DTS receiving

little or no UK aid.

10. Miss Anderson raised the problem of DTs making initial contact directly with international or regional organisations, rather than through HMG. FID had heard that the FIG might be setting up direct links with members of the European Parliament. The Falklands' Director of Civil Aviation had actually been on his way to an

His international congress in Santiago before HMG found out. participation was vetoed and the Falklands were represented by the UK delegation. Mr Wallace replied that the normal procedure was for HMG to make the initial approach to the organisation on the DT's behalf and then to delegate authority to the Territory's government. Miss Eddis noted that we had insisted that this course should be followed when TCI tried to negotiate membership of Caricom.

11.

Mr Waterworth, referring to paragraph 4(i) of Mr Wallace's paper, suggested that the proposed constitutional survey should include the compilation of lists of recent examples of the use of reserved powers and royal instructions. There were obvious in-house uses for such a list. Mr Wallace agreed suggesting that this task

might be given to Research Department.

PJ5AAD/5

CONFIDENTIAL

wb HK