The long-awaited debate on the UK's rewrite of relations with its colonies was yesterday branded a damp squib.

And Opposition leader Pamela Gordon said: "I am severely disappointed -- it's concerning to say the least. I was waiting, hoping, to be enlightened.'' In the first full-scale House of Assembly debate on the UK White Paper and its rewrite of relations with its overseas territories, Premier Jennifer Smith offered few new clues on where her Government stands on the issue.

She repeated earlier promises to repeal the law on hanging and ruled out any moves towards independence in this term of office, but little else.

"What we got was a walk through the actual document -- verbatim,'' complained Ms Gordon. "Anybody who can read can do that.

"Then we got a walk through the UK Foreign Affairs Committee report -- again verbatim.

"But there was no information and no clarity in where the Government is going to go and how they got there.'' Ms Gordon added that the White Paper on the new deal for the Overseas Territories was unveiled in March and the debate was tabled two months ago.

She said: "We've been kept in the dark, waiting for four months in anticipation -- but the opportunity has been lost.'' And she said a series of UBP roadshows on the White Paper had turned up fears over the offer of citizenship and confusion over Bermuda's laws on hanging, flogging and gay rights.

Ms Gordon added: "There are concerns about this country's economic viability and about citizenship.'' She said that people had been asking if Britain would retain the right to remove citizenship -- as it did in the 80s with a controversial Act of Parliament designed to deprive British Hong Kong Chinese of the right to live in the UK.

The UK has offered full citizenship with the right to live, work and study in Britain on equal terms with mainland subjects.

But the Foreign Office has demanded UK/Euro-style financial regulation, higher standards in human rights -- including an end to hanging and flogging, which are both retained only by Bermuda.

House coverage, Page 4 Premier pledges Repeal of hanging No independence this term Electoral reform Better representation within the Commonwealth Clarification of citizenship offer Ms Gordon said: "People want to know what kind of strings are attached to this offer and these are the kinds of questions we hoped would be answered by the Premier and Finance Minister.'' Ms Smith confirmed Government would move to repeal hanging and flogging in Bermuda -- a move she said was backed by the Bermuda African Methodist Episcopalian Church.

And she ruled out any moves towards independence in the wake of the White Paper and the linked issues of probes into offshore jurisdictions by international bodies.

Ms Smith said: "There have been several unsuccessful attempts to link the the White Paper with calls for independence.

"We have stated... over the years that any party seeking independence should put it in their platform and fight a general election on that basis.

"We would not seek independence in our first term -- it would be with the approval of the people in a general election fought on that basis.'' She added Government would also be looking for electoral reform, with an end to unevenly-sized two-seat constituencies divided along parish lines.

And Ms Smith said: "The PLP also have grave concerns about eligibility requirements for election to the House of Assembly.'' She did not elaborate -- but that could be reference to controversy over Bermuda-born Dr. Ewart Brown's US citizenship problem, which he solved by renouncing his American nationality.

And Ms Smith added that she also wanted to see Bermuda better represented at Commonwealth conferences. Britain currently takes the lead with Bermuda relegated to observer status.

She also discussed apparent contradictions in the citizenship offer, with one part of the White Paper suggesting people would have to apply for it and another which said it would be automatic, although people could retain their old Dependent Territory status if they wanted to.

Ms. Smith said: "The procedures were not entirely clear -- but I hope it will be after the UK Parliament debates the issue.'' But Ms Gordon said: "People need to understand what all this means -- we need to understand, for all of the trips and travel which have taken place, what were the negotiations about and what can the people look forward to and what the Government has negotiated on behalf of this Country.'' No caption