similar right of abode in Bermuda for the British.

For The Royal Gazette understands that some form of reciprocal arrangment will be part of any new deal on nationality.

According to UK Parliamentary insiders, the UK Foreign Office would most likely insist on some form of return for full British passports for the less-than-200,000 citizens of the Dependent Territories. One UK Parliamentarian said the UK had already given temporary rights of residence to residents of volcano-stricken Montserrat. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is believed to have run into strong opposition to full citizenship for the colonies from the Home Office and Home Secretary Jack Shaw.

Although a row was denied by UK Government spokesmen, it is understood Mr.

Cook won the turf war with the Minister responsible for immigration.

Mr. Cook however, is understood to have lost ground in the Cabinet pecking order after a series of embarrassments involving his private life.

But one Parliamentary insider said: "They did promise a custom-built solution for each Dependent Territory.

Premier Pamela Gordon is on record saying she backed easier access to the UK for Bermudians -- especially for work experience and education.

Row emerges over citizenship But Government set its face against reciprocal arrangements, insisting Bermuda was too small to cope with even limited numbers of UK immigrants.

The news came as Ms Gordon told the House of Assembly yesterday that the UK Government had advised her that the preparation of a White Paper on Mr. Cook's promise of a new future for Britain and its colonies was nearing completion.

Ms Gordon told MPs "the bulk of a first draft'' had already been completed.

She added: "Present intentions are that this document will be laid before the British Parliament prior to its summer recess.'' The UK Parliament sits later than its Bermudian counterpart and this year will not rise for the summer holiday until into August.

Ms Gordon said: "The topics to be included in the White Paper are the relationship between the British Government and its Overseas Territories and the structures for managing this relationship.'' Constitutional matters, democratic rights and good government, financial control and borrowing, and regulation of financial services are all on the agenda.

Ms Gordon said: "A draft of the White Paper will be made available to the Bermuda Government, which will make the necessary arrangements to have the draft circulated widely throughout the community for both information and comment.

"All sectors of the community will have ample opportunity to review and comment on the draft over the summer months, before the Bermuda Government formulates its response.'' She added: "I certainly hope that members of the community will avail themselves of the opportunity which is being made available to them.'' Mr. Cook announced a review of relations between Britain and its Dependent Territories at a conference in London in February. But earlier this year alarm bells sounded during a Commonwealth conference in the Bahamas.

Ms Gordon and Finance Minister Grant Gibbons, together with international businessmen, warned that Bermuda's financial sector could be "severely damaged'' if a UK bid to tighten up regulations governing offshore business went ahead.