Michael Dunkley, the Premier, concludes the latest round of Brexit talks in London today regarding the impact on the Overseas Territories of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

As he prepared to head to a courtesy meeting with Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, Mr Dunkley called it “heartening” that the British Government “understands the positions of the OTs, and that commitment is still there” on the implications of Brexit.

Meanwhile, a proposal tabled by the opposition Labour Party, which would force the territories to draw up a register of owners of offshore companies, is unlikely to win approval, Mr Dunkley said.

“The Government has stated that they do not support the Bill,” the Premier said, adding that his meeting with Ben Wallace, the Minister of State for Security, would still proceed today as a necessary measure to reinforce Bermuda’s position.

“We can’t afford to take anything lackadaisically,” Mr Dunkley said, warning the amendments proposed to the Criminal Finance Bill came with “potentially far-reaching implications”.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Bob Richards, also in London, already denounced the tax legislation in an interview with The Guardian newspaper on Monday.

A meeting yesterday morning at the Chinese Embassy enabled the Premier to build on the “relatively new relationship” with China and discuss tourism and reinsurance. Officials “know of Bermuda, but did not know much about it”.

Brexit is no simple process: the departure from the EU will drag on for more than two years, Mr Dunkley said, with market access, EU funding, trade and freedom of movement high on the OTs’ lists.

Bermuda was elected to chair a preparatory session, with a subsequent meeting chaired by Baroness Anelay and including Robin Walker of the Department for Exiting the European Union.

Discussions on international trade topped the Bermudian concerns, Mr Dunkley said, as the island does not receive EU funding streams.

Mr Dunkley also gave a formal request to Baroness Anelay for the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women to be extended to cover the island, which Cabinet has approved.

The convention can be extended to Bermuda “rather seamlessly”, Mr Dunkley said, and a statement can be expected during this Friday’s session of the House of Assembly.