rights last night -- but at a price.

In return for "a modernised and strengthened partnership'' and for restoring their rights to citizenship, the overseas territories will be obliged to sign up to international laws and codes of conduct.

They must guarantee human rights and political and civil freedoms, abolish corporal punishment and scrap laws that ban homosexual acts in private between consenting adults.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook told the House of Commons in a statement yesterday that if the overseas territories failed to comply voluntarily he would push the conditions through by an Order of Council -- which would take precedence over any decision made by their own governments.

Mr. Cook told the Commons: "We already have a firm basis for partnership founded on three centuries of shared history. I believe that the proposal in the White Paper will give us a confident basis for our future partnership into the next century.'' The conditions, which must be met by the end of the year, are on: Money laundering, transparency and cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

Independent financial regulation.

Human rights.

On financial regulation, Mr Cook told the Commons: "The globalisation of international finance means that we cannot tolerate a weak link anywhere in the chain without exposing investors to risk.

On human rights, he said: "Those Overseas Territories that choose to remain British must abide by the same standards of human rights and good governance that we demand of ourselves.

"We require our Overseas Territories to maintain legislation that fully complies with the European Convention on Human Rights, and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which the United Kingdom is a party.

"Specifically, we require changes in the law in a minority of Overseas Territories which retain corporal punishment and criminalise consensual homosexual acts in private.

"Our strong preference is that the Overseas Territories should enact the necessary reforms themselves, but we are ready to make such reforms by Order in Council if they fail to do so.'' The conditions were angrily condemned by the Conservative Opposition -- who took away the citizen rights when they were in power.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Howard said: "Will the Foreign Secretary explain why he is imposing European Human Rights obligations on those territories which are not part of the European Union? "Does he not have confidence in instincts and abilities of the legislators in those territories to reflect the cultural and political wishes of their inhabitants? "Why does he not devolve those powers to the overseas territories themselves, if, as he says, he believes in devolution and partnership. Is this not legislation without representation?'' Mr. Howard said there was much in the White Paper that the Conservatives would support and welcome on aid, defence and financial regulation.

On the question of citizenship, he said the Government would need to ensure that citizens of a third country could not become citizens of the UK by becoming citizens of an overseas territory.

In response to Mr Howard, Mr. Cook said: "I have to say, I am rather surprised that the shadow spokesman on foreign affairs, does not understand that the European Convention on Human Rights has got absolutely nothing to do with the European Union. Indeed, this country has been committed to it long before we joined the European Union.

"I think we have a perfect right to say to those overseas territories whom we represent around the world that we expect them to abide by them too, so we can defend them around the world. I believe we have a particular obligation to all the residents of these territories, including any minorities within them to make sure they have the same right we claim for ourselves.'' In his statement, Mr Cook said: "It is a striking measure of the degree to which the Dependent Territories value that partnership that none of their Governments expressed any desire during the review for full independence.

"They all want to preserve the constitutional link with the United Kingdom, which has provided all of them with security and most of them with a high level of prosperity.'' He said the White Paper confirmed the Government's commitment to drop the title "Dependent Territories''. "It is the wrong name for today's territories which are energetic, self-governing, and anything but dependent.

We will be introducing legislation to rename the territories `United Kingdom Overseas Territories' and in the meantime will be adopting that title in all government communications.'' On citizenship, he said: "There is a strong sense of grievance in many Overseas Territories that their right of abode in Britain was taken away from them. The residents of the Overseas Territories are proud of their connection with Britain, but often puzzled that Britain appears not to be proud to have them as British citizens.

"I can announce today that we will be offering British citizenship to all those residents of the Overseas Territories who wish to take it up.

"This improved status will be welcomed throughout the Overseas Territories.

It will give its residents the right to travel freely throughout the European Union, and will enable their young people to support themselves through work experience while they study in Britain.''