Territories have started to appear.

Britain has generally set its face against giving people from its overseas possessions the same right to live and work in the country as European Community citizens currently enjoy.

But the new British Labour Government seems to be shifting from the hard-line position held by previous administrations -- one of which handed back Hong Kong and most of its British Dependent Territories Citizen UK passport holders back to Communist China.

The news came as Premier Pamela Gordon confirmed Bermuda would attend February's conference of the Dependent Territories Association in London.

The Royal Gazette understands the Overseas Development Aid Select Committee in the House of Commons -- which has been studying the problems thrown up after the Caribbean Island of Montserrat was hit by volcanic eruptions -- has recommended that any Montserratian who wants to should be allowed to move to Britain with no strings attached.

UK Parliament insiders yesterday confirmed a slight sea change in the UK's policy.

One said: "The Committee has underlined the desirability of giving the people of Montserrat permanent residence in the UK.'' And that means that the chorus of claims from the other dozen or so Dependent Territories could be hard to ignore in the run-up to the publication of a report intended to rewrite the UK's relations with its former colonies.

Ms Gordon last night welcomed the apparent shift in UK policy.

She said: "It's a promising move -- recognising that the per capita income in Bermuda is so great, you won't have any exodus.

"But it creates all kinds of possibilities for our students and young people.

"We have lots businesses here that our young people would like to get into -- but they don't have the experience.

"It would also reduce the cost of education to the level UK students pay, which is a vital change. And it would allow our students to work while they are there, so they can subsidise their education.'' Ms Gordon agreed that if Montserrat was to win a concession, it would make it hard for the Labour Government to resist calls from other Dependent Territories for the same treatment.

She said: "With Bermuda being the most populous remaining former colony, what we have to say has to matter. I'm very encouraged by this latest development.'' Ms Gordon added that two months of inquiry into the cost and framework of the Dependent Territories conference -- at which Robin Cook is expected to lay down new rules governing the BDTs -- had ended with a decision to attend.

She explained: "Because of the subject matter of the meeting....I think it would be beneficial for Bermuda to have at least a limited presence.''