What is a British Overseas Territory?
Q: What is a British Overseas Territory?
A: A British Overseas Territory is one of fourteen territories under the United Kingdom's sovereignty, but not as part of the United Kingdom itself. Before 1981 they were known as colonies or Crown colonies.
Q: Who looks after defence and foreign affairs in a British Overseas Territory?
A: Defence and foreign affairs are looked after by the British government.
Q: What happens if a British Overseas Territory is ruled badly?
A: The government of the British Overseas Territory can be taken over by the British government and ruled directly by it, without the agreement of the British Overseas Territory.
Q: How do Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man differ from other overseas territories?
A: Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man have a slightly different constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom than other overseas territories, so they are classed as Crown dependencies rather than Overseas Territories. Unlike British Overseas Territories, the British government cannot take over their governments unless they agree to it.
Q: How does being an overseas territory relate to being part of Commonwealth Nations?
A: Territories and dependencies are distinct from Commonwealth Nations which is a voluntary association of former British colonies. Colonies should also be distinguished from protectorates and protected states which were nominally independent states whereas colonies were part of the UK state. They should not be confused with Dominions which were independent states held to be equal in sovereign status to UK within Empire & Commonwealth after Statute of Westminster in 1931.
Q: How did Crown Colonies such as Hong Kong differ from other colonies?
A: Crown Colonies such as Hong Kong differed from other colonies in that they were administered directly by the Crown without local autonomy found in self-governed colonies or other UK overseas territories such as Bermuda.
