Territories, Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon said last night.

And she said -- no matter what the British view -- an offer of full citizenship could not be divorced from the UK insistence on tough laws to beat white-collar crime and human rights legislation in line with international standards.

The UK was yesterday keen to stress the citizenship deal, which is open to individual choice, was not conditional.

But UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook warned that the Territories would have to fall into line over UK commitments on human rights and financial regulation if they wanted full partnership.

But Ms Gordon -- who stressed she had not had time to go through the White Paper in detail -- said that Government would have to decide on UK terms in the White Paper, even though citizenship would be an individual choice.

She added: "It's easy to say it's up to the individual if he wants to take up citizenship. If the Country does not agree, however, with the positions on capital punishment, corporal punishment and other things, there could be problems -- the Country must agree with the terms and conditions overall.'' Ms Gordon warned: "This is a most important time for Bermuda and people need to be taken through this item by item -- all of the potential ramifications and possible pitfalls.

"We believe a referendum about the White Paper and how it should be dealt with should be held. Once this is properly viewed and investigated, it should be put to the people of Bermuda with as much information as possible.'' She was speaking in an interview from London, where she watched some of the House of Commons debate. Ms Gordon will today meet representatives from the Foreign Office.

UBP: No surprises in Paper Mr. Cook added that the UK would expect the colonies to toe the line on human rights and financial regulation -- or Britain would legislate for them.

But Ms Gordon said Britain would be unlikely to force issues with Bermuda -- which would need UK Acts of Parliament.

And she added: "If we choose not to accept what they would like, then the Country has a choice to make.'' Ms Gordon said: "I'm pleased there are no surprises in there -- but I think it's time for Bermuda to turn its sights very clearly on what direction it wants to go.

"We need a referendum to decide whether or not the Country wants to be tied to the UK -- if the Country decides not, then the only choice then would be Independence.

Ms Gordon added that she was distressed by apparent "complacency'' in the ranks of Government over threats to Bermuda's offshore industry from international groups like the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the EU and the UN.

She said: "One thing we don't want to do is be complacent and say we meet all the regulatory standards.

"What we're saying is we know Bermuda has worked diligently to maintain a very good reputation -- but we must be proactive in our actions.

"We have to let our position be known on how committed we are to keep a strong legislative framework.

"The challenge we have is being put in with all the other offshore jurisdictions, some of which have questionable reputations.

"That's why it's important to be very forceful and extremely proactive -- we are very careful about our reputation.'' Pamela Gordon Graphic file name: GPDRII POLITICS PTL