live and work in the UK has rekindled the debate over Bermuda going it alone.

No sooner had the prospect of Britain returning to the stance prior to the passing of the British Nationality Act 1981 -- full British passports instead of the second-rate British Dependent Territories ones -- been raised, opinion-formers started to warn against the move.

Some prophesied that the loosening off would be a two-way street -- with UK citizens swamping tiny Bermuda.

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook announced a rewrite of relations with its Dependent Territories in February this year.

And Premier Pamela Gordon, with Finance Minister Grant Gibbons, has led negotiations with the UK ever since.

The United Bermuda Party's position on its ties with Britain was set out in its submission to the UK Government earlier this year.

The UBP concentrated on practical gains -- right of residence, the same fee rates for Bermudian British as UK-born citizens and the abolition of visa requirements for European travel and access to Europe for work and study.

The UBP also ruled out any move towards Independence in the wake of the 1995 Referendum on the subject which overwhelmingly rejected the option -- unless conditions change.

The traditionally pro-Independence PLP has steered well clear of the issue in recent times.

And yesterday leader Jennifer Smith refused to comment on the issue.

But in its submission to the UK Government, the PLP did say Independence remained the party's "ultimate goal''.

But the PLP added that it would not move towards a Constitutional change without the backing of the Bermuda people following "education and discussion''.

The party's document added that the 1995 vote did not give a clear view of Bermudian opinion -- partly because of the PLP's call for a boycott.

PLP chiefs were also lukewarm on full British citizenship -- and added the Bermudian people had not been canvassed for their opinion on the matter.

Premier Pamela Gordon, however, has insisted no change would be agreed without full consultation -- up to and including a referendum on UK citizenship, if required.

The PLP also echoed the UBP's call for full rights for education and employment in Britain for Bermudians -- but, again, with no reciprocal rights for Britons.

Surprisingly, the PLP election platform makes little of the citizenship issue, although it does mention international moves to crack down on "harmful tax regimes''.

But the UBP platform devotes a page to relations with the UK.

The British Government is not expected to issue its White Paper on a new deal for the Overseas Territories until Christmas -- but the UBP pledged a Referendum if Britain's proposals are deemed to be unacceptable.

Ms Gordon said yesterday: "Our position is clear -- we won't consider pursuing Independence unless the White Paper makes it necessary. Depending on what Britain comes up with in the White Paper, it may necessitate bringing it back to the table.'' Britain -- although discussions on regulation of financial affairs, tax and human rights issues in the colonies are running in tandem with the citizenship issue -- has denied that the issues are linked.

The National Liberal Party -- which lost its last seat in 1993 -- is firmer on the issue of Independence.

In February, it accused the PLP of wrecking the '95 Referendum -- which it claimed was the Island's best chance to start charting its own course.

And party spokesman Graeme Outerbridge said Bermuda was "at a watershed'' -- with the choice of closer links to the UK or Independence, the NLP's favoured option.

He added: "We see the issue of full British citizenship as strictly a British problem and one they should have acted upon when they gave the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar full British status.'' The Falkland Islanders were given full British status following the invasion of the islands by the Argentinians in the early 80s.

Gibraltar has a unique standing because it is the only Dependent Territory inside the sphere of influence of the European Union.

The controversial removal of rights to live and work in the UK was sparked by fears over the return of Hong Kong to Communist China.

The passport system was changed to effectively bar millions of Hong Kong Chinese from fleeing the prospect of rule by a hardline nation with scant respect for human rights.

But now -- since Hong Kong was handed back last summer -- fewer than 200,000 citizens in the remaining dozen or so Territories remain.

And Britain accepts it is unlikely to face even a mini-rush of immigrants to the UK from the likes of Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Anguilla -- making the return of full British status more likely.

Pamela Gordon Jennifer Smith