Bermuda's next Police Commissioner could be from a former British Dependent Territory -- Hong Kong.

It is understood Government and Governor Thorold Masefield are casting their nets wide in the search for a top-class replacement for Police Commissioner Colin Coxall who turned in his resignation a week ago.

But Bermuda's leaders are also thought to be looking at several Commonwealth countries, including the UK, Canada and the Caribbean for a new Police chief.

And Mr. Edness has already said senior officers already with the Bermuda force were not be ruled out of the picture.

Hong Kong, however -- handed back to China at the start of July -- is believed to be a prime recruiting ground.

The service in Hong Kong traditionally recruited heavily from UK forces. Many senior officers from a UK background quit in advance of the handover to China -- but some remained and could be keen to move to Bermuda.

Last night Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness refused to comment on plans for a successor.

He confirmed preliminary meetings on the issue had been held with Deputy Governor Peter Willis and Governor Thorold Masefield.

But he said that nothing concrete had been decided and added Her Majesty's Inspector of Dependent Territories Police, Lionel Grundy, might also be asked to contribute advice.

Mr. Edness said: "We have some time, but we want to act expeditiously. I think the Governor would agree that we have to keep our options open.

"But we need someone with the skills and sensitivity to be able to get to know the men and women of the Police service.'' The hunt for a new Police chief started when Mr. Coxall handed in his notice last week. He will quit the force and retire from policing at the end of October -- five months before his three-year contract runs out.

He was credited with modernising and turning around the fortunes of the force in his time in Bermuda.

But it is understood his resignation came after a series of clashes with Government, although top Government figures deny this.

Editorial: Page 4 Quinton Edness