NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
COVERING CONFIDENTIAL
Registry No.
HKK 5/38
DRAFT LETTER
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
To:-
Type 1 +
FROM
Telephone No. Ext.
Confidential.
Restricted.
Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
In Confidence
Spoken.
n,
Me speak
Ay
18/ix
Enclosures
The Secretary
HM Treasury
Sir,
Department
1. I am directed by Mr Secretary Callaghan to state for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the
Treasury that the Governor of Hong Kong has advised him that proposals for changes in the Colony's coinage were approved by the Executive Council on 10 September, 1974, following a comprehensive review of present and future coinage needs in the territory. A copy of the memorandum prepared for the Executive Council (XCC(74)66), with an annexed report by the committee
which carried out the review, is enclosed with this
letter.
Copy letter with encls.:-
Master,
Royal Mint (Attention Mr. Dowling)
2. The effect of the proposal is to introduce three new coins in denominations of 20 cents, 2 dollars and
5 dollars, the last replacing a currency note. It is also proposed to replace the present 50 cent and 1 dollar pieces with coins of smaller size, the alloy of the 50 cent coin being at the same time changed from copper-nickel to nickel-brass. Specifications for the new range are given in paragraph 65 of the enclosed report. The proposals have been arrived at in consultation between the Royal Mint and the Government of Hong Kong and are understood to command the Mint's approval in general.
3. It is intended that these changes in the coinage should be phased over the period from August, 1975 to August, 1977, adherance to this time schedule being of importance because of considerations of storage space availability. As orders for the minting of the new coins to be introduced in August 1975, viz., the 20 cent and 2 dollar pieces, will need to be placed
soon the Governor has asked for the approval of the Secretary of State and The Lords Commissioners of the
/Treasury
6195 D073528 400M 2/74 Cr.P.C. 839/3