.441.
Confidential.
9787)
Gov 30964
Sir,
PEKING,
C. O.
45417-
429
11 DEC 08
October 5th, 1908.
On receipt of your despatch No.277 of June 13th, regarding a proposal for the annexation of the Atoll of Pratas near Hongkong, I made enquiries of the Governor of Hongkong, the Naval Commander-in-Chief, and His Majesty's Consular Representatives at Canton and Swatow in the despatch of which I have the honour to enclose a copy, requesting such information on the subject of this island as they might be able to obtain.
The Governor of Hongkong furnished me in reply with a copy of his secret despatch of the 23rd July to the Colonial Office, of which a copy has doubtless been communicated to you.
Vice Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton stated that nothing appeared in his records on this subject since the correspondence of 1902. As a wireless telegraph station the island would be valuable to Hongkong, for the purpose of signalling typhoons, but it was not considered
Edward Grey, Bart, M.P.,
&c., &c., &c.