British overseas territories 207114 225699788 2008-07-14T23:40:26Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[cy:Tiriogaethau tramor y Deyrnas Unedig]] [[Image:Location of the BOTs.png|thumb|450px|Location of the British Overseas Territories.]] The '''British Overseas Territories''' are fourteen territories which the [[United Kingdom]] has under its [[sovereignty]], but not as part of the United Kingdom itself<ref name=fco>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1013618138295 The 14 Territories]</ref>. The name "British Overseas Territory" was introduced by the [[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]], and replaced the name '''British dependent territory''' which was introduced by the [[British Nationality Act 1981]]. Before that, the territories were known as '''colonies''' or '''Crown colonies'''. The British Overseas Territories are also referred to as '''overseas territories of the United Kingdom'''<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fk.html CIA - The World Factbook - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, '''UK overseas territories'''<ref>[http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018965238550 UK overseas territories]</ref>, or when the context is clear, simply '''the Overseas Territories'''<ref name=fco/>. The territories of [[Jersey]], [[Guernsey]] and the [[Isle of Man]], though also under the sovereignty of the British Crown, have a slightly different constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom, and are consequently classed as [[Crown dependencies]] rather than Overseas Territories. Territories and dependencies are distinct from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], a voluntary association of former [[British colonies]] and latterly other nations such as [[Mozambique]] that have joined because of the benefits it offers. In a historical context, colonies should be distinguished from [[protectorate]]s and [[protected state]]s, which though under British control, were nominally independent states, whereas colonies were part of the British state{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. They should also not be confused with [[Dominion]]s, which, known collectively as the ''Commonwealth'', were independent states, held to be equal in sovereign status to the United Kingdom within the Empire and Commonwealth after the [[Statute of Westminster]] in 1931. Crown colonies, such as [[Hong Kong]], were differentiated from other colonies in being administered directly by the Crown, without the degree of local autonomy found in self-governed colonies such as [[Bermuda]]. The current population of all UK overseas territories is estimated at 247,899{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. ==History== {{main|British Empire}} [[Image:Hong Kong handover.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[handover of Hong Kong]] on [[July 1]], [[1997]], the last major overseas British territory.]] The original English colonies in the [[New World]] were plantations of English subjects in lands hitherto outside the dominions of the Crown. The first such plantation was in [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], where English fishermen routinely set up seasonal camps in the 16th century. What later became known as the "Old Empire" began in 1607 with the settlement of [[Jamestown Settlement|Jamestown]], the first successful permanent colony in "[[Colony and Dominion of Virginia|Virginia]]" (a term that was then applied generally to [[North America]]). In 1609, a second colony was unintentionally established in [[Bermuda]] (as an extension of Virginia), which, with the loss of the American colonies in 1783, is the oldest British colony in existence (''English'' colonies became ''British'' with the 1707 unification of the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] to form the [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]) . The growth of the [[British Empire]] in the 19th century, to its peak in the 1920s, saw the UK acquire over one quarter of the world's land mass, including territories with large indigenous populations in [[Asia]] and [[Africa]], which were held for commercial and strategic reasons rather than for settlement{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The late 19th century saw the larger settler colonies &mdash; in [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and [[South Africa]] &mdash; becoming [[Self-governing colony|self-governing colonies]] and achieving independence in all matters except foreign policy, defence and trade. Separate self-governing colonies [[federation|federated]] to become [[Canada]] (in 1867) and the [[Commonwealth of Australia]] (in 1901). These and other large self-governing colonies had become known as [[Dominion]]s by the 1920s. The Dominions achieved full independence with the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster (1931)]]. The Empire was renamed the [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] to reflect such changes and in 1949 became known as the Commonwealth of Nations. Most of the British colonies in [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and the [[Caribbean]] achieved independence. Some colonies became [[Commonwealth Realms]], retaining the British monarch as [[head of state]], others became republics but acknowledged [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as [[Head of the Commonwealth]]. [[Image:Bermuda-Harbour and Town of St George.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[St. George's, Bermuda|St. George's]] town, in the Islands of [[Bermuda]], or ''The Somers Isles''. The colony was founded by the wrecking of the flagship of the [[London Company|Virginia Company]] in 1609. The Company's charter was extended to include Bermuda in 1612, and it has remained an English (since 1707, ''British'') colony ever since. Since the independence of [[Virginia]], it has been the oldest-remaining British colony, and the town of St. George's is the oldest continuously-inhabited English settlement in the New World.]] The 1980s saw the United Kingdom lose its last mainland colonies, with the independence of [[Southern Rhodesia]] (now [[Zimbabwe]]) in Africa in 1980 and [[British Honduras]] (now [[Belize]]) in Central America in 1981. The last major colony that remained was [[Hong Kong]], with a population of over 5 million. Unlike other territories, much of Hong Kong (the [[New Territories]]) was leased to the UK by [[China]] under a 99 year lease that expired in 1997. The United Kingdom negotiated the [[Sino-British Joint Declaration]], which led to the whole of Hong Kong becoming a "[[Special administrative region (People's Republic of China)|special administrative region]]" of China in 1997, subject to various conditions intended to guarantee the preservation of Hong Kong's capitalist economy and its way of life under British rule for at least 50 years after the handover{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. Following the return of Hong Kong, the remaining colonial possessions are generally small island territories with small populations, and the uninhabited British Antarctic Territory. The reasons for these territories not achieving independence vary, and include: * lack of support for independence among the local population; * a small population size making the possibility of success as a sovereign nation more difficult; * dependence on economic aid from the UK; * being uninhabited territories used for scientific or military purposes; * a need for British military presence to guard against hostile neighbours; * a lack of any economic or political justification for independence. In 2002, the UK Parliament passed the [[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]]. This reclassified the UK's dependent territories as ''Overseas Territories'' and, with the exception of those people solely connected with the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus, restored full British citizenship to their inhabitants. It was once said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire"<ref>[http://www.friesian.com/british.htm The Sun Never Set on the British Empire<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, and the British Overseas Territories still extend to every geographic region of the World, with the Caribbean Overseas Territories in [[North America]], The Falklands in [[South America]], Saint Helena and Dependencies in [[Africa]], Pitcairn in [[Oceania]], Gibraltar in [[Europe]], British Indian Ocean Territory in [[Asia]], and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in [[Antarctica]]. ==Current Overseas Territories== {| class="Shortable wikitable" !Flag !! Arms !! Territory !! Location !! Motto !!colspan="2"| Area !! Population !! Capital |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of Anguilla.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of Arms of Anguilla.svg|50px]] | [[Anguilla]] | [[Caribbean]] | ''Strength and Endurance'' | {{convert|39.4|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on|disp=table|lk=on}} | 12,800 | [[The Valley, Anguilla|The Valley]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of Bermuda.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coa Bermuda.svg|50px]] | [[Bermuda]] | [[North Atlantic Ocean]] | ''Quo fata ferunt'' ([[Latin]]: "Whither the Fates carry [us]") | {{convert|20.6|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 64,482 | [[Hamilton, Bermuda|Hamilton]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the British Antarctic Territory.png|48px|border]] | [[Image:British Antarctic Territory COA.svg|50px]] | [[British Antarctic Territory]] | [[Antarctica]] | ''Research and discovery'' | {{convert|666000|sqmi|km2|-2|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 200 staff | [[Rothera]] (main base) |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg|50px]] | [[Image:British Indian Ocean Territory coat of arms.svg|50px]] | [[British Indian Ocean Territory]] | [[Indian Ocean]] | ''In tutela nostra Limuria'' ([[Latin]]: "[[Limuria]] is in our charge") | {{convert|23|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 3,200 military and staff | [[Diego Garcia]] (base) |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of Arms of the British Virgin Islands.svg|50px]] | [[British Virgin Islands]] | [[Caribbean]] | ''Vigilate'' ([[Latin]]: "Be watchful") | {{convert|59|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 21,730 | [[Road Town]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of arms of Cayman Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Cayman Islands]] | [[Caribbean]] | ''He hath founded it upon the seas'' | {{convert|100.4|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 46,600 | [[George Town, Cayman Islands|George Town]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the Falkland Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coa Falkland.svg|50px]] | [[Falkland Islands]] | [[South Atlantic Ocean]] | ''Desire the right'' | {{convert|4702|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 2,967 | [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of Gibraltar.svg|48px|border]] | [[Image:Coa Gibraltar.svg|50px]] | [[Gibraltar]] | [[Iberian Peninsula]] | ''Nulli expugnabilis hosti'' ([[Latin]]: "No enemy shall expel us") | {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2|1|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 27,776 | [[Gibraltar]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of Montserrat.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of arms of Montserrat.svg|50px]] | [[Montserrat]] | [[Caribbean]] | | {{convert|39|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 9,000 | [[Plymouth, Montserrat|Plymouth]] (abandoned due to volcano—de facto capital is [[Brades, Montserrat|Brades]]) |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the Pitcairn Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of Arms of the Pitcairn Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Pitcairn Islands]] | [[Pacific Ocean]] | None | {{convert|17|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}<br>(all&nbsp;islands) | 67 | [[Adamstown, Pitcairn Island|Adamstown]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of Saint Helena.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of arms of Saint Helena.svg|50px]] | [[Saint Helena]] (including [[Ascension Island|Ascension]], [[Tristan da Cunha]])&nbsp;&nbsp; | [[South Atlantic Ocean]] | ''Loyal and unshakeable'' | {{convert|158|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}}<br>(all&nbsp;islands) | 6,563 | [[Jamestown, Saint Helena|Jamestown]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.svg|50px]] | [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]] | [[South Atlantic Ocean]] | ''Leo terram propriam protegat'' ([[Latin]]: "Let the lion protect his own land") | {{convert|1508|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 11-26 staff | [[King Edward Point]]/[[Grytviken]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Her Majesty's Government Coat of Arms.svg|50px]] | [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] | [[Mediterranean]] ([[Cyprus]]) | ''Dieu et mon droit'' ([[French language|French]]: "God and my right") | {{convert|98|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 15,000 (almost half British military and staff)&nbsp;&nbsp; | [[Episkopi Cantonment]] |- valign="top" | [[Image:Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg|50px]] | [[Image:Turks and Caicos coa.gif|50px]] | [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] | [[Caribbean]] | | {{convert|166|sqmi|km2|0|abbr=on|disp=table}} | 21,500 | [[Cockburn Town]] |} ==Government== ===Head of State=== The head of state in the Overseas Territories is the [[British monarch]], currently [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]. The Queen's role in the territories is in her role as Queen of the United Kingdom, and not in right of each territory. The Queen appoints a representative in each territory to exercise her executive power. In territories with a permanent population, a [[Governor]] is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the British Government, usually a retired senior military officer, or a senior civil servant. In territories without a permanent population, a Commissioner is usually appointed to represent the Queen. For Overseas Territories with dependencies, the Governor may appoint an Administrator to represent him or her in that dependency{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The role of the Governor is to act as the ''de facto'' [[head of state]], and they are usually responsible for appointing the head of government, and senior political positions in the territory. The Governor is also responsible for liaising with the UK Government, and carrying out any ceremonial duties. A Commissioner has the same powers as a Governor, but also acts as the head of government. {{British dependencies governors}} ===Government=== All the Overseas Territories have their own system of government, and localised laws. The structure of the government appears to be closely correlated to the size and political development of the territory. {| class="wikitable" !Territories!!Government |- | *[[British Antarctic Territory]] *[[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]] || No native population, therefore there is no elected government. The Commissioner, supported by an Administrator run the affairs of the territory. |- | *[[British Indian Ocean Territory|British&nbsp;Indian&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;Territory]] || There is no elected government, and currently has no native settled population. However, the [[Chagossians|Chagos Islanders]] - who were forcibly evicted from the territory in 1971 and might reasonably considered to be that territory's people - are currently defending an appeal against an [[High Court of England and Wales|English High Court]] judgment which quashed an [[Order-in-Council|Order]] preventing them from returning. |- | *[[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] || There is no elected government, however the British military authorities try to ensure convergence of laws with those of the Republic of Cyprus where possible. |- | *[[Pitcairn Islands]] || There is an elected [[List of rulers of the Pitcairn Islands|Mayor]] and [[Island Council (Pitcairn)|Island Council]], who have the power to propose and administer local legislation. However, their decisions are subject to approval by the Governor, who retains near-unlimited powers of plenary legislation on behalf of the United Kingdom Government. |- | *[[Falkland Islands]] *[[Saint Helena]] || The Government consists of an elected Legislative Council. The Governor is the head of government and leads the Executive Council, consisting of appointed members made up from the Legislative Council and two ''ex-offico'' members. |- | *[[Anguilla]] *[[British Virgin Islands]] *[[Cayman Islands]] *[[Montserrat]] || These larger territories have a larger Legislative Council, with political parties. The Executive Council is usually called a cabinet and is led by a [[Chief Minister]] (except in the Cayman Islands, which have a [[Leader of Government Business]]), who is the leader of the majority party in parliament. The Governor exercises less power over local affairs and deals mostly with foreign affairs and economic issues, while the elected government controls most "domestic" concerns. |- | *[[Gibraltar]] || Under the [[Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006]] which was approved in Gibraltar by [[Gibraltarian constitutional referendum, 2006|a referendum]], Gibraltar now has a [[Gibraltar Parliament|Parliament]]. The [[Government of Gibraltar]], headed by the [[Chief Minister of Gibraltar|Chief Minister]] is elected. Defence, external affairs and internal security vest in the [[Governor of Gibraltar|Governor]] as a matter of distribution of powers. The UK therefore has no need to administer in Gibraltar.<ref>[http://www.gibnews.net/cgi-bin/gn_print.pl/?GOGX070606_1.xml speech at the United Nations, 2007]</ref> |- | *[[Bermuda]] *[[Turks and Caicos Islands]] || Bermuda, settled in 1609, is the oldest and most populous of the Overseas Territories, and most executive powers have been devolved to the head of government, known as the [[List of Premiers of Bermuda|Premier]]. Its system of government is very similar to that of a sovereign [[Commonwealth Realm]]. The UK government retains only minor powers, exercised through the [[Governor of Bermuda|Governor]], but most of those are handed to local ministers for day-to-day purposes. Bermuda's [[Parliament of Bermuda|Parliament]] held its first session in 1620, and Bermuda has been largely self-governed and self-sufficient since then. The Turks and Caicos Islands adopted a new constitution effective [[9 August]] [[2006]]; their head of government now also has the title [[Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands|Premier]], and their autonomy has been greatly increased. |} ===Legal system=== Each Overseas Territory has its own legal system independent of the United Kingdom. The legal system is generally based on [[English common law]], with some distinctions for local circumstances. Each territory has its own Attorney General, and court system. For the smaller territories, the UK may appoint a UK-based lawyer or judge to work on legal cases. This is particularly important for cases involving serious crimes and where it is impossible to find a jury who will not know the defendant in a small population island{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The [[Pitcairn rape trial of 2004]] is an example of how the UK may choose to provide the legal framework for particular cases where the territory cannot do so alone. ==Relations with the UK== The [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] has the responsibility of looking after the interests of all Overseas Territories except one. The '''Overseas Territory Department''' is headed by the Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, currently the [[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] [[Meg Munn]]. The exception is the Sovereign Base Areas territory, which comes under the jurisdiction of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. In 1999, the FCO published the [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1018028164839 Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories] report which set out the UK's policy for the Overseas Territories, covering four main areas: * Self-determination * Responsibilities of the UK and the territories * Democratic autonomy * Provision for help and assistance The UK and the Overseas Territories do not have diplomatic representations, although the governments of the Overseas Territories with indigenous populations (except Bermuda) all retain a representative office in [[London]]. The [http://www.ukota.org/default.asp United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA)] also represents the interests of the territories in London. The UK provides financial assistance to the Overseas Territories via the [[Department of International Development]]. Currently only Montserrat and Saint Helena receive budgetary aid (ie financial contribution to recurrent funding). Several specialist funds are made available by the UK, including: * The [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1013618138375 Good Government Fund] which provides assistance on government administration; * The [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1125563803151 Economic Diversification Programme Budget] which aim to diversify and enhance the economic bases of the territories ==Foreign affairs== {{see also|Special member state territories and their relations with the EU}} [[Image:Antarktyda-Brytyjskie Terytorium Antarktyczne.png|thumb|Map showing the portion of [[Antarctica]] claimed by the UK as [[British Antarctic Territory]].]] Foreign Affairs of the Overseas Territories are handled by the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] in [[London]]. However some territories maintain diplomatic officers in nearby countries for trade and immigration purposes. Several of the Caribbean territories maintain membership of the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States]] and the [[Caribbean Community]]. None of the territories is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], although they do take part in the [[Commonwealth Games]]. [[Gibraltar]] is the only Overseas Territory that is part of the [[European Union]] (EU), although it is not part of the customs union and is not a member in its own right. None of the other Overseas Territories are members of the EU, and the main body of EU law does not apply and, although certain slices of EU law are applied to those territories as part of the EU's Association of [[Overseas Countries and Territories]] (OCT Association), they are not commonly enforceable in local courts. The OCT Association also provides Overseas Territories with structural funding for regeneration projects. Since the return of full [[British nationality law|British citizenship]] to most 'belongers' of Overseas Territories (mainly since the [[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]]), the citizens of those territories hold concurrent European Union citizenship, giving them rights of free movement across all EU member states. Several nations dispute the UK's sovereignty in the following Overseas Territories: * [[British Antarctic Territory]] &mdash; Territory overlaps Antarctic claims made by [[Chile]] and [[Argentina]] (though under the [[Antarctic Treaty System]], these claims are not disputed) * [[British Indian Ocean Territory]] &mdash; claimed by [[Mauritius]] and [[Seychelles]] * [[Falkland Islands]] &mdash; claimed by [[Argentina]] * [[Gibraltar]] &mdash; claimed by [[Spain]] * [[South Georgia]] and the [[South Sandwich Islands]] &mdash; claimed by [[Argentina]] * [[Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] &mdash; claimed by [[Cyprus]] ==Citizenship== {{main|British Overseas Territories citizen}} None of the Overseas Territories have their own nationality status, and all citizens are classed as [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]s (BOTC). They do however, have legislative independence over immigration, and holding the status of a BOTC does not automatically give a person a right to abode in any of the territories, as it depends on the territory's immigration laws. A territory may issue [[Belonger status]] to allow a person classed as a BOTC to reside in the territory that they have close links with. Non-BOTC citizens may acquire Belonger status in order to reside in a particular territory (and may subsequently become naturalised BOTC if they wish). Historically, most inhabitants of the former British Empire held the status of [[British subject]], which was usually lost upon independence. From 1949, British subjects in the United Kingdom and the remaining crown colonies became [[History of British nationality law|citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies]]. However changes in British immigration and nationality law between 1962 and 1983 saw the creation of a separate [[British Overseas Territories citizen|British Dependent Territories citizenship]] with effect from January, 1983. Citizens in most territories were stripped of full British citizenship. This was mainly to prevent a mass exodus of the citizens of [[Hong Kong]] to the UK before the agreed handover to [[China]] in 1997. Exception was made for the [[Falkland Islands]], which had been invaded the previous year by [[Argentina]]. Full British citizenship was soon returned to the people of [[Gibraltar]] due to their friction with [[Spain]]. However, the [[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]] replaced dependent territory citizenship with [[British Overseas Territories citizen]]ship, and restored full British citizenship to all BOTCs except those from the [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus]]. This restored to BOTCs the right to reside in the UK. [[British nationality law|British citizens]] do not, however, have an automatic right to reside in any of the Overseas Territories. Some territories prohibit immigration, and any visitors are required to seek the permission of the territory's government to live in the territory. As they are used primarily as military bases, [[Ascension Island]] and the [[British Indian Ocean Territory]] do not allow visitors to the territory unless on official business. ==Military== Defence of the Overseas Territories is the responsibility of the UK. Many of the Overseas Territories are used as military bases by the UK and its allies. * Ascension Island (a dependency of [[Saint Helena]]) - the Base (formerly known as [[RAF Ascension Island]]) is used by both the [[Royal Air Force]] and the [[United States Air Force]]. * Bermuda - became the primary [[Royal Navy]] base in the Western Hemisphere, following US independence. The Naval establishment included an admiralty, a [[Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda|dockyard]], and a naval squadron. A considerable military garrison was built up to protect it, and Bermuda, which the British Government came to see as a base, rather than as a colony, was known as the ''Gibraltar of the West'' [http://www.avalanchepress.com/FortressBermuda.php]. Canada and the USA also established bases in Bermuda during the [[Second World War]], which were maintained through the [[Cold War]]. Since 1995, the [[Military of Bermuda|military force in Bermuda]] has been reduced to the local [[Territorial Army|territorial]] battalion, the [[Bermuda Regiment]]. * British Indian Ocean Territory - the island of [[Diego Garcia]] is home to a large naval base and airbase leased to the United States by the United Kingdom until 2036 (unless renewed), but that either government can opt out of the agreement in 2016. * [[Falkland Islands]] - the [[Military of the Falkland Islands|British Forces Falkland Islands]] includes commitments from the [[British Army]], [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy]]. * Gibraltar - a [[Royal Navy]] [[Cammell Laird Gibraltar|dockyard]], also used by [[NATO]]. [[RAF Gibraltar]] is used by the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and [[NATO]]. The local garrison is manned by the [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]]. * The Sovereign Base Areas of [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia]] in [[Cyprus]] - maintained as strategic British military bases in the eastern [[Mediterranean Sea]]. ==Symbols and insignia== Each Overseas Territory has been granted its own [[flag]] and [[coat of arms]] by the British monarch. Traditionally, the flags follow the [[Blue Ensign]] design, with the [[Union Flag]] in the [[flag terminology|canton]], and the territory's coat of arms in the fly. Exceptions to this are Bermuda which uses a [[Red Ensign]]; British Antarctic Territory which uses a [[White Ensign]]; British Indian Ocean Territory which uses a Blue Ensign with wavy lines to symbolise the sea; and Gibraltar which uses a banner of its [[Coat of arms of Gibraltar|coat of arms]] (the [[Flag of Gibraltar|flag of the city of Gibraltar]]). Gibraltar's coat of arms is unique in that it is the only armorial insignia that dates from before the period of British colonial administration{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are the only British Overseas Territories without an official flag of their own. The [[Union Flag]] is used in this territory and is also used for Ascension Island. {{Template:Flags of British dependencies}} ==Gallery of images== <center><gallery> Image:Anguilla-sandy-ground-overlook.jpg|<small>[[Sandy Ground, Anguilla]].</small> Image:Bermuda-Harbour and Town of St George.jpg|<small>[[St. George's, Bermuda]].</small> Image:Diegogarcia.jpg|<small>View of the military base at [[Diego Garcia]], [[British Indian Ocean Territory]].</small> Image:Roadtown, Tortola.jpg|<small>[[Road Town]], [[Tortola]], [[British Virgin Islands]].</small> Image:Grand Cayman NASA.jpg|<small>[[Grand Cayman]], [[Cayman Islands]].</small> Image:Upland.jpg|<small>Upland, [[Falkland Islands]].</small> Image:Gib bay.jpg|<small>[[Rock of Gibraltar]], [[Gibraltar]].</small> Image:Soufriere Hills.jpg|<small>[[Soufriere Hills volcano]], [[Montserrat]].</small> Image:Adamstown.jpg|<small>[[Adamstown]], [[Pitcairn Islands]].</small> Image:St-Helena-Jamestown-from-above.jpg|<small>[[Jamestown]], [[Saint Helena]].</small> Image:Thatcher-Peninsula.jpg|<small>[[Cumberland Bay]], [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]].</small> Image:Garrison HQ, Dhekelia.jpg|<small>Garrison HQ, [[Dhekelia]]</small> Image:Cockburn Town.jpg|<small>[[Cockburn Town]], [[Turks and Caicos Islands]].</small> </gallery></center> ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[British Overseas Territories Act 2002]] *[[British Overseas Territories citizen]] *[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] *[[War Department (UK)|Colonial Department]] *[[Secretary of State for the Colonies]] *[[Colonial Office]] *[[British Empire]] *[[Crown dependency]] *[[Self-governing colony]] *[[Dominion]] *[[Commonwealth Realm]] ==Further reading== * Harry Ritchie: ''The Last Pink Bits'' * Simon Winchester: ''Outposts: Travel to the Remains of the British Empire'' (published in 1985 in the UK as ''Outposts: Journeys to the Surviving Relics of the British Empire'' also in the US as ''The Sun Never Sets: Travels to the Remaining Outposts of the British Empire''.) * George Drower: ''Britain's Dependent Territories'', Dartmouth, 1992 * George Drower: ''Overseas Territories Handbook'', TSO, 1998 ==External links== * [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1013618138295 Foreign and Commonwealth Office- "UK Overseas Territories"] *[http://www.direct.gov.uk/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/InternationalBodies/InternationalBodiesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4003092&chk=JXlogH The Commonwealth] - UK government site *[http://www.casahistoria.net/decolonisation.htm Decolonisation] - History links for the end of the European formal Empires, casahistoria.net * [http://www.ukotcf.org/ UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum] * [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20008--a.htm British Overseas Territories Act 2002- Text of the Act] * [http://www.ukota.org/ United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association] *[http://www.britlink.org/territories.html Britlink - The British Overseas Territories] {{Template group |list = {{United Kingdom topics}} {{British dependencies}} }} [[Category:British Overseas Territories| ]] [[Category:Foreign relations of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Colonialism]] [[Category:Dependent territories]] [[Category:British colonization of the Americas]] [[bg:Британски задморски територии]] [[cs:Zámořské území Spojeného království]] [[cy:Tiriogaethau tramor y Deyrnas Unedig]] [[da:Britisk oversøisk territorium]] [[de:Britische Überseegebiete]] [[et:Suurbritannia meretagused alad]] [[es:Territorio Británico de Ultramar]] [[fr:Territoire britannique d'outre-mer]] [[gl:Territorio británico de ultramar]] [[ko:영국의 해외 영토]] [[hi:ब्रिटिश सुदूर क्षेत्र]] [[hr:Britanska prekomorska područja]] [[it:Territori britannici d'oltremare]] [[he:הטריטוריות הבריטיות שמעבר לים]] [[sw:Eneo la ng'ambo la Uingereza]] [[lb:Britesch Iwwerséigebidder]] [[lij:Tæritöi d'oltremâ Britanneghi]] [[hu:Brit tengerentúli területek]] [[ms:Wilayah Luar Negeri British dan Wilayah Tanggungan Mahkota]] [[nl:Britse overzeese gebieden]] [[ja:イギリスの海外領土]] [[no:Britisk oversjøisk territorium]] [[pl:Brytyjskie terytoria zamorskie]] [[pt:Territórios britânicos ultramarinos]] [[ro:Teritoriile britanice de peste mări]] [[simple:British overseas territories]] [[sk:Zámorské územie Spojeného kráľovstva]] [[sr:Британске прекоморске територије]] [[fi:Britannian merentakaiset alueet]] [[sv:Brittiska besittningar och protektorat]] [[ta:பிரித்தானிய கடல்கடந்த மண்டலங்கள்]] [[th:อาณานิคมโพ้นทะเลของสหราชอาณาจักร]] [[vec:Teritorio Britànico da Mar]] [[zh:英國海外領土]]