Britain's administration of the Island.

Premier The Hon. Sir John Swan accused author Mr. George Drower of producing a controversy to sell copies of "Britain's Dependent Territories -- A Fistful Of Islands.'' And Governor Lord Waddington is said to be surprised at an accusation Mr.

Drower made -- in publicity material for the book -- that he was not fully briefed before he came to Bermuda in August.

Deputy Governor Mr. John Kelly said that although the author makes some good points he is incorrect on many of the main points of the book. Mr. Drower claims that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are lethargic in their dealings with Britain's 14 "dependent territories.'' He called for the territories -- Bermuda will have the largest population when Hong Kong is passed over to China -- to form their own "union'' and asked that the British Government review its policies towards its remaining colonies.

The Premier hit back at the book saying Britain had normally been available when Bermuda needed its support.

He said: "Britain is 3,500 miles away. We are closer to the United States and our business is normally with them. Britain has helped us with the US Treaty and the shipping register.

"I do not understand what he means by some of his ideas in the book but no matter what he says we will continue to look after the needs of the people of Bermuda.

"I suppose he has made his book controversial to sell copies.'' Mr. Drower had made a statement concerning the former Governor Sir Richard Posnett. Mr. Drower said that Sir Richard had been forced to resign in 1983 after "trivial allegations'' were made about his management allowance.

But the Premier said that the allegations which involved some $25,000 had never been proved, but could not have been "trumped up'' because of the UK Government's involvement.

Mr. Kelly has read the book. He said: "Mr. Drower has not got the present FCO attitudes towards their responsibilities to dependent territories right.

"Over the past few years great efforts have been made not to exclude the dependent territories from important discussion affecting the United Kingdom.

"The department that deals with Bermuda, the West Indies and Atlantic Department has been beefed up to ensure that they have the manpower necessary for the job.

"Mr. Drower will have been talking to colleagues in London about current ideas for policy. He then writes them into his book and when current thinking materialises into hard policies it might look as if the ideas were his.'' Mr. Kelly said that things have changed over the past couple of years which have overtaken the book, including the appointment of new officials.

He said that Mr. Drower's attacks on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were wrong because many other Government departments are involved in dealings with dependent territories.

Mr. Kelly said that there were no grievances between the United Kingdom and Bermuda at the moment although there were "matters of mutual interest''.

Governor Lord Waddington had been surprised by Mr. Drower's allegation that he had not been properly briefed before his journey to the Island.

But Mr. Kelly said: "If anything the Governor was over-briefed. He went to a meeting in Brussels which was not really necessary.

"Between April and August he regularly visited the office to absorb more information. Many people have remarked about how well briefed he was.

"I sent him three copies of The Royal Gazette every week. How better briefed could he have been?'' The Hon. Sir John Swan.