Plans for Britain's rewrite of relations with its colonies is set to be unveiled this summer, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

MPs in Britain will discuss a new deal for the remaining Overseas Territories, set in motion by UK Labour Foreign Secretary Robin Cook earlier this year.

The news came as top Civil Servants from the Dependent Territories gathered for a summit meeting in Bermuda, also attended by British Foreign Office man Michael Hall from the soon-to-be-abolished West Indian and Atlantic Desk.

Mr. Hall -- due to address the conference today -- said: "We're hoping that the White Paper will be published later in the summer.'' But he added: "Discussions continue within Whitehall on one or two areas.'' Still being discussed at top level in Whitehall is Britain's pledge to try and make it easier for holders of British Dependent Territories Citizens' passports to study and work in the UK.

And Mr. Cook in February did not rule out full British citizenship for the almost 200,000 BDTC passport holders.

Also believed to be still under discussion are controversial plans to toughen up on laws governing money-laundering and white collar crime.

The move raised fears that Bermuda's booming offshore industry could be wrecked by extra-tough laws which would make it less competitive and open up company books to "fishing expeditions'' by overseas authorities.

But Mr. Hall insisted: "We recognise their continued prosperity is as much a UK interest as a local interest.

"There is no question of us wishing to ruin your prosperity.'' The problem of citizenship is being thrashed out between the Foreign Office and the Home Office, which is responsible for immigration matters, while British Treasury officials are closely involved with plans to combat drugs money, tax fraud and other financial crimes.

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee is also drawing up its own suggestions and examining the Foreign Office review.

Mr. Hall was speaking after Governor Thorold Masefield formally opened the Conference of Deputy Governors, Chief Secretaries and Secretaries to the Cabinet at Bermuda College.

Mr. Masefield said: "It's appropriate with the millennium coming up that we should focus on the future...it's appropriate to have a look at the Overseas Territories and the Overseas Territories' relations with Britain.'' He added that two UK Parliamentary Select Committees were working on the proposed new deal.

And Mr. Masefield said the review was "a subject close to the hearts'' of British Cabinet Ministers and "a subject of interest as we go through the agenda looking at the problems of the world.''