§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the Governments and states which Her Majesty's Government do not officially recognise and the reasons for non-recognition in each case.
§ Mr. WhitneyAs stated by my right hon. and noble Friend, the then Foreign Secretary in another place on 28 April 1980, when there is a change of Government we
decide the nature of our dealings with the new regime in the light of the Government's assessment of whether they are able of themselves to exercise effective control in the territory of the state concerned and seem likely to continue to do so.This change of practice did not affect the separate question of the recognition of states. The criteria which normally apply for the recognition of a state are that it should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a population, a Government who are able of themselves to exercise effective control of that territory and independence in their external relations. There are, however, exceptional cases when other factors, including relevant United Nations resolutions, may have to be taken into account.Entities which the Government do not recognise as states include North Korea, Taiwan, the so-called South African Homelands of Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda, Northern Cyprus and the Western Sahara.