The British Empire was once home to third of the 【M1】______world’s population. But, with t

The British Empire was once home to third of the 【M1】______

world’s population. But, with the return of Hong Kong and its six

million inhabitants to China, only 180,000 people in 12 populated

territories now themselves as British colonial subjects. 【M2】______

Britain's imperial expansion, which continued for 400 years,

was motivated by the desire to acquire the wealth, and to 【M3】______

maintain the British navy’s control of the seas. Today, that flow

of wealth has reversed and most of the "dependent territories", 【M4】______

as these colonies are known, require some financial support from Britain.

It was with the granting of independence to India in 1947 Britain【M5】______

started to dismantle its empire. It was relative easy to give independence【M6】______

to the larger colonies - indeed, most campaigned vigorously for self - rule—

but the small dependencies, which were less economically viable, preferred【M7】______

to remain beyond British rule. 【M8】______

Most are still unwilling to cut these old ties, chiefly for financial

reasons. Since 1990 , Britain has provided its dependencies with 153 million

in aid, and for many this money is a lifeline. Even Britain's rich【M9】______

territory ,Bermuda, wants to maintain its links with the UK. In

a referendum in 1995 voters overwhelmingly rejected dependence. 【M10】______

Bermuda is Britain’s oldest colony and it earns much of its income

through banking and other financial services.

【M1】