TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 77

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

+

FCO ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNORS POSTS IN THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Aim

1. The aim of this paper is to look at ways at improving the

administration of our Governors' posts in

posts in the dependent territories

by bringing them into the mainstream of Diplomatic Service

administration. A summary of recommendations is attached.

Background

2.

of

Before 1966 the administration of

of our colonies/dependent

territories was handled by the Colonial Office. With the merger

the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office, responsibility was vested in the CRO until with the further merger

of the CRO and FO in 1968 responsibility was passed to the new FCO.

3. Throughout this period the number of colonies/DTs was reduced

significantly with the coming of independence. Within the FCO the

pattern for administering the remaining DTs varied. At one time

most responsibility was vested in one department

J

Hong Kong and

General Department. This later became fragmented with

responsibilities being passed to various geographical departments

some of which for some time were joint FCO/ODA departments eg WIAD,

SPD etc.

4.

Our policy towards the dependent territories had been based on

the assumption that eventually they would all attain independence. In 1973, a review had concluded that continued responsibility for

the DTS was not in HMG's interest and that our aim should be an

active policy of divestment. This policy was pursued with some

success in that, since 1973, a number of territories sought and had

been granted independence. But in 1987 a further review of the

remaining dependencies in the Caribbean area concluded that

the promotion of independence for these territories and

MANAGEMENT IN CONFIDENCE

/ Bermuda

:

+

:

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.