suggestion of talks between Premier David Saul and United Kingdom Prime Minister John Major. What can possibly be wrong with talking? PLP leaders constantly suggest that we should examine Bermuda's position with an eye toward constitutional developments and yet proposed talks in London cause their leader to accuse Dr. David Saul of "going off again on a tangent''. Talks are being proposed. Explorations, discussions and information exchanges are not decisions.

The Governor Lord Waddington, has made recent personal suggestions that Bermuda's position with Britain could be very different after Hong Kong reverts to China in 1997.

This newspaper has been suggesting for the last 12 years that after the departure of Hong Kong there will be only very small territories left and Britain might well agree to a new relationship which would be of great benefit to Bermuda.

After 1997 there will be relatively few people left in the colonies, many of whom already have a right of abode in Britain and the great majority of whom have no desire to live in Britain. The truth is that nothing was going to happen before Hong Kong left because, like it or not, Britain was not going to open its doors to millions of Chinese who might not want to be part of communist China.

Britain might well have no problem with some kind of associated status for the small countries, giving their people access to Britain and to the European Community. The Governor has said that in his own view the door is not shut. We think that is a cautious understatement because the going of Hong Kong may well open doors.

It is also entirely possible that some kind of special arrangement could be worked out by Bermuda with the United States and Canada. Both countries look favourably on us now. Already we have Customs and Immigration pre-clearance for the United States which is almost unique to us and provides great benefit.

We are very special in not requiring visas for either the United States or Canada. Special arrangements for a tiny and friendly country would not be a daunting prospect for the large countries because any precedent which was set would only apply to a few hundred thousand people.

But the PLP seems stuck on straight Independence, and its accompanying dangers, a proposition which a great number of its own followers helped to reject at the August 16 referendum.

It seems the PLP leadership has decided to complain about anything and everything the Government does. As usual, that ignores the fact that a Country is much better off if its Opoposition politicians at least try to be constructive, helping to make things better rather than worse.