long-term residents.

The Portuguese Bermudian Organisation said it was lobbying UK foreign secretary Mr. Douglas Hurd and other top officials, hoping to increase pressure on Government.

The PBO, which represents up to 400 Portuguese families in the Island, says it is still working with Government but it is hoping the appeal to London will speed things up.

The organisation was formed last year after long-term residents, some of whom had been on the Island 25 years, found they were losing their work permits.

Chairwoman Miss Anna Faria said yesterday: "We have sent a report about the situation, just stating our concerns and giving a bit of background on the frustrations that have been felt.

"We have asked them to use their influence to help our case, and to do anything they can to perhaps persuade Government to listen to us.

"Government have been very co-operative in speaking with us and meeting regularly with us. It's just that perhaps it's not as encouraging as we would have liked it by now.

"We have been in constant meetings and we understand that there's a lot of problems, and it's not the type of problem that's going to be solved very quickly.'' The organisation's 250-page report has gone to Mr. Hurd and to Mr. Rob Holland at the Foreign Office's Bermuda desk. A copy also went to Lord Carrington, because of his past role in the Island's constitutional affairs, and to Portugal's foreign affairs minister Dr. Duaro Borrosso.

The Premier, the Opposition leader and the Governor have also been sent versions.

The report includes a survey of MPs and senators. Mr. Michael Madeiros, PBO vice-chairman, said "a good proportion agreed that something had to be done''.

He added: "We still have a good working relationship with all the political parties and the dialogue is still going along.'' The aim of lobbying Britain was to "speed up the process and bring it to the forefront''.

The PBO was formed to get more stability for Portuguese and other long-term residents. Among its aims are a lowering of the age at which Bermuda-born non-Bermudians can apply for status, and preference for non-Bermudian residents over new imported labour.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Shadow Home Affairs Ministr Mrs. Lois Browne Evans said the PBO approached Britain because it was "not satisfied''.

She said it was time for Government to tell the Country what its position was.