CO129-351 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 480

473

others outside ourselves who have visited Pratas, and

the former, for half a century at least, have been ei-

ther British subjects or have sailed out of Hong Kong

in British registered craft.

(4)

Beyond a few Japanese and ourselves nobody

is aware of the enormous value of the Island.

(5) It is evident from the note upon the Admir-

alty detail Chart (No.2721) of Pratas that the Island

and

was and is still regarded as a "No-man's-land",

therefore the property of the man who exploits it and

resides there regularly.

(6)

It would be only a day's work for a destroy-

er, for example, to run down from Hongkong to Pratas

and hoist the flag up officially.

(7) By the time this reaches you the flag will

already have been flying over Pratas for at least 3

weeks. We shall preserve the original caim and de-

claration.

(8)

We want the sole rights vested in us to work

the Guano, Shell and Fishery, and any Charter granted

us by the Home Government should be in our two names

collectively.

There is no fear of any complications

in

Page 480!