The Prime Minister Hon ‘Akilisi Pohiva said today that he did not give away the Polata'ane royal residence and land to the British Government.

In answering heated questions from local media today on the issue, which arose in April when in London he offered the British Government their former seafront residence known as Polata’ane, in anticipation of a British return to the Pacific islands.

During a general press conference, he called today, the PM said he did not give the property away and apologized for any misunderstanding of his intentions.

"My thinking at the time, when their Minister for Foreign Affairs said they would return, was that there was already this residence they had occupied before leaving, It could be renovated and the High Commissioner could return to it," he said.

PM Pohiva said he did not mean for anyone to come and take ownership of the property as it was never his thought to take this land and give it to another.

Polata‘ane is a historic 12,077m2 property that has been occupied by Tonga's Royal Family and the Lord Chamberlain's Office since the British High Commission closed its Tonga diplomatic mission in 2006.

A lease on the property held by the British government expired in 2001.

After his visit to London in April the Prime Minister's delegation issued a press release stating, "Hon Pohiva welcomed the British Government's re-engagement in the South Pacific reportedly saying, 'I take this opportunity to offer the British Government the use of its former Residence in Nuku'alofa from which you departed 12 years ago.' "