The lease on a tropical island owned by the king of Tonga has been put on the market in a receivership sale.
Although the king -- George Tupou V -- has issued a proclamation that Nukunamo Island cannot be mortgaged or used as security "for any purpose whatsoever", the receivers believe they can sell the 99-year lease.
The lease on the island was held by a first cousin of the Tongan king, Koloiana Naufahu, but was taken over after Naufahu failed to meet loan repayments to the Westpac Bank of Tonga.
The sale-by-tender advertisement, posted on the Matangi Tonga website on Thursday, says the island is being sold by the court-appointed receiver of Kololiana Naufahu.
The lessor of the island, which covers more than 66 acres (27 hectares), is listed as "His Majesty George Tupou V King of Tonga".
The rent for the successful lessee is 16,000 Tongan Pa'anga (7,900 US dollars) and the property is offered on an "as is where is" basis.
