against gay sex.

The statement, from Foreign Secretary Mr. Douglas Hurd, is the first from the UK since an international campaign began to remove the law.

But it has not changed the view of Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan that there are more important issues for the Island to consider.

Mr. Hurd made the statement following a petition to the House of Commons from British campaigner Mr. Julian Corlett.

His petition said Bermuda was in defiance of international human rights agreements, and called for Britain to do "all within its power'' to get the law changed.

Mr. Hurd replied: "Amendment of Bermudian legislation is, in the first instance, a matter for the Government of Bermuda.

"The question of reforming the law is under active consideration by the Government of Bermuda.

"I hope that the law on homosexuality in Bermuda will soon be brought into line with the European Convention on Human Rights.'' Sir John said he was not surprised by Mr. Hurd's statement.

"It's his government's policy and we have not yet evolved one ourselves. At this stage the matter is not receiving active consideration. We're so busy at the moment trying to deal with the economy and many other issues. It's not a priority.'' New Jersey campaigner Mr. Bill Courson, who sparked off the international campaign, said Britain was obliged to act on Bermuda's behalf.

He said he would take the matter to the international legal level if there was no action "in the very near future''.