Britain's voice in Bermuda welcomed survey results showing a majority of Bermudians backed a new deal giving them the right to live and work in the UK.

Deputy Governor Tim Gurney said: "It's heartening that a majority of people support the proposals.'' And he predicted: "As time passes and people come to understand the proposals more fully, I feel sure more and more will look upon it as a good thing.'' And he insisted: "There will be no losers with what's on offer.'' Mr. Gurney was speaking after a special survey showed more than half of all Bermudians supported an end to hanging and flogging in return for full UK citizenship. Support for the UK proposals -- which also include tougher financial regulation in its Overseas Territories as well as the human rights proposals -- was stronger among the young.

A total of 66 percent aged between 18 and 34 backed the new deal, compared to 41 percent among those aged 55 or more.

It is thought that reflects the likelihood that the young are more likely to want to travel, study and gain valuable work experience in Britain or Europe -- now a no-strings-attached option.

Mr. Gurney declined to comment on why the younger sectors of the Island population were more in favour.

Deputy Governor cheers results But he said: "It's very encouraging that support from that age group is particularly high -- they are the future.'' The news came as UBP backbencher Trevor Moniz -- one of the anti-Independence rebels who in 1994 split the then-Government when Premier Sir John Swan called a Referendum on the subject -- questioned a forum held on Thursday night which appeared to suggest a stark choice between Independence or full UK citizenship.

Mr. Moniz said: "There is really no `or' involved -- the British Government has said this offer is not contingent on anything.'' And he added that one question the survey did not ask respondents was whether they already had British residency rights through a parent.

Mr. Moniz said: "I have a feeling a lot of people are thinking emotionally in that those people who have the least to gain are probably the ones voting in favour.'' And he predicted: "I don't think people have been fully informed about this.

"When they are, I think we'll get a much higher figure in favour of it.'' Mr. Moniz said that the young were probably in favour of UK passports because they were more inclined to claim the right to live, study and work in Britain.

He added: "They're more likely to be mobile and to take advantage of it -- the opportunity to do without having a work permit would be very inviting.'' And he said: "I was quite pleased with the results generally and my view is, if people were better informed, they would be far more likely to be in favour.'' Mr. Moniz' views were shared by fellow Indepedence rebel C.V. (Jim) Woolridge.

The Shadow Environment Minister, who emphasised that he was expressing his personal view and not that of the party, said: "The White Paper has nothing to do with Independence -- it's not a case of one or the other.'' Mr. Woolridge added that a Referendum could be held on whether or not to ban capital punishment -- one of the demands of the White Paper -- but said that a Referendum on Independence was not necessary.

"In the election neither party had it as an issue,'' he said.

Around one in ten of the 400-plus people surveyed expressed fears that changes to the Island's tax status would hit international business on the Island or Bermuda's low-tax status.

But Mr. Moniz said: "I have spoken to people in the business community and they are pleased, but they say the devil is in the detail.

"They definitely want to be involved in negotiations from the financial angle.'' He added, however: "They see it very positively -- as a challenge and an opportunity and that's how all Bermudians should view it. That's certainly how I see it.

"But the people who are against it are trying to present it as some sort of bogeyman and nothing could be further from the truth.'' IMMIGRATION IMM