Report of Foreign Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15-d 16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month ended:  January 3, 2005

Commission File Number:  0-30314

BONTAN CORPORATION INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

ONTARIO, CANADA

(Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

47 Avenue Road, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 2G3

(Address of principal executive Offices)

(416) 860 0211

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):   ¨

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):   ¨

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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BONTAN CORPORATION INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BONTAN CORPORATION INC. DISCONTINUES ITS DIAMOND OPERATIONS IN BRAZIL

TORONTO, ON December 31, 2004   --   Bontan Corporation Inc. (OTCBB: BNTNF) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bontan Diamond Corporation ("BDC"), has decided not to pursue its diamond mining opportunities in Brazil and is currently negotiating with certain mining companies for disposal of its existing joint venture agreements and other assets.

The Company's subsidiary in Brazil experienced considerable delays in obtaining the necessary permits to commence exploratory mining. The situation was further aggravated by current events, which resulted in indefinite shut down of all alluvial mining activities and resentment by small miners, garimpeiros, towards all foreign mining companies. The Company was faced with a prospect of long awaiting and significantly more expenditure than was originally planned. In the circumstances, the management decided to focus its limited resources on the company's more lucrative projects in Oil and Gas.

Mr. Kam Shah, CEO commented, "While the decision is disappointing, it is in the best interest of the shareholders and investors to ensure that the Company's resources are used in more profitable activities."

About Bontan Corporation Inc.:

Bontan Corporation Inc. is a diversified natural resource Company seeking high returns with minimal risks. Bontan operates, backs and invests in major exploration and exploitation plays run and organized by highly regarded geologists, geophysicists and executives.

Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Bontan seeks highly visible opportunities in countries around the globe with a history of natural resource production that offer exciting and attractive propositions. The company will seek to minimize risk by bringing in either joint venture, carried or working interest partners, depending on the size and scale of the project.

Bontan currently has business interests in oil exploration project in Papua New Guinea and Gas exploration project in the State of Louisiana, USA.

For further information, please contact Kam Shah, CEO & CFO at 416-860-0175. Visit www.bontancorporation.com for more information.

For Media Relations, contact John Robinson at Current Capital Corp. at 416-860-0211 or visit their website at www.currentcapital.com.

No regulatory authority has approved nor disapproved the content of this release.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words "plans", "confident that", "believe", "expect", or "intend to", and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any of the forward-looking statements.

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