my %cliParms; var_b = subA(\%cliParms); print Dumper(%cliParms); #### VAR1 = 'tclDefs'; VAR2 = { 'my_var1' => 'a', 'my_var2' => 'b' } #### my %my_tcldefs; %my_tcldefs = $cliParms->{'tclDefs'}; print Dumper(%my_tcldefs);