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CONFIDENTIAL
IMMEDIATE
arranged to announce the enactment of the Order either before
that day or immediately afterwards. The Order would be laid before Parliament on the same day as the Privy Council meeting and would enter into force twenty one days thereafter.
3. Ministers have instructed that there should be two weeks
consultation with local governments before the Order is made,
and that firm proposals for decision in the light of this
consultation will be submitted to the Lord President. You
should therefore initiate consultations from 25 February
onwards and report by 11 March on the results, so that the department may prepare the necessary minute. We do not expect
the results of your consultations to affect the timetable for
making the Order as Ministers are already aware that there
will be opposition from some quarters eg the Chief Minister of
BVI to what we intend to do. Nevertheless, you should, as in
my telno 161. take the line that the Secretary of State has reached his decision because he is ultimately answerable to Parliament for the good government of the Dependent Territories, and that he is responsible for ensuring that so far as possible governments of the DTS follow UK legislation and practice. This applies particularly in an area where the
UK Parliament has expressed a clear and consistent view over many years and most recently in the debate on capital
punishment on 17 December. In consulting your governments you should take every opportunity to explain to other responsible
citizens the reasons behind our decision.
4. While we do not expect there to be any unrest following news of the Privy Council Order, you will wish to consult your
Police Commissioner to ensure that law and order will be
maintained in the territory during the weeks following the
announcement.
5. Hamilton only. You should inform Sir John Swan of what we
intend to do. If he asks whether the order will apply to
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