Government of British Indian Ocean Territory

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Country name:

Conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory

Conventional short form: none

Abbreviation: BIOT

Dependency status:

Overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

Legal system:

The laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; a special agreement applies to persons subject to U.S. military law [1]

Executive branch:

Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)

Head of Government: Commissioner Tony Crombie (since January 2004); Administrator Charles A. Hamilton (since 2002); note - both reside in the UK

Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch

British Government Representative: Cdr D. Howard RN

Flag description:

white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag