trong trong 186
It December 1866.
Governo
Sir Richard Graves Missonill Co.
13
The Right Honorable
The Earl of Carnarvon.–
Mink - Dong Kong Dollar-
Chinese Proclamation - certifying value of
Results of that Proclamation.
how limited.
No. 182.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
186
The following Extract of a Letter from Mr. Vice-Consul MAYERS, in charge of Her Majesty's Consulate at Canton, enclosing Copy of Proclamation issued by His Excellency The Vice-Roy of the Two KWANG and other High Officers, declaring the Hongkong Dollar to be a Valid Tender in payment of Government dues, is published for general information.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th November, 1866.
No. 218.
W. T. MERCER,
Colonial Secretary.
SIR-
BRITISH CONSULATE, CANTON, 26th November, 1866.
With reference to my despatch No. 189 of the 26th October, forwarding Copy of the Minutes of the Assay, held here of the Dollars issued from the Mint of Hongkong, I have now the honor to state, for the information of His Excellency SIR RICHARD MACDONNELL, that a Proclamation has been issued by the principal Chinese Authorities of this Province, in which the new Dollar is acknowledged as a valid tender in payment of dues to the Government at the ascertained rate.
I enclose a translation of this Proclamation, together with a copy in original stamped with the seals of the Viceroy, Governor, and Superintendent of Customs,
I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant,
WM. FRED. MAYERS,
Vice Consul in Charge.
(Signed,)
Enclosure.
The Hon. W. T. MERCER, Esq.,
Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.
PROCLAMATION.
Sui, Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief of the Provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si : Kwo, Governor of the Province of Kwang-tung; and
SHIH, Superintendent of the Imperial Maritime Customs of Kwang-tung;
Issue the following Commands for general instruction.
Whereas the population of the Province of Kwang-tung make use in their daily transactions of Foreign Money, the circulation of which has long been customary, and has been admitted as advantageous and convenient, Now of late there have been issued from the Mint of Hongkong Dollars, Half Dollars, and other Coins of smaller denomination, and request has been made by the British Acting Consul Mayers that officials might be deputed to submit this Coinage to Assay. Hereupon officials were accordingly appointed, for the purpose of jointly proceeding with the testing process; and the result of the Assay has been that, on being brought into comparison with the Standard of Hai-kwan Sycee Silver, the Hongkong Dollar is equal to the Standard of Nine hundred-thousandths, and hence One hundred and Eleven Taels, One Mace, and One Candareen in the new Coinage of Hongkong are equivalent to One hundred Taels in Hai-kwan Sycee. A certificate to this effect has been drawn up in testimony thereof by the Kao Hong Mow and four remaining Customs' Banks. It is proper, therefore, that the same be admitted at the aforesaid rate in the payment of dues to the Government, as also to general circulation, for the convenience of the public; and this Proclamation is accordingly issued.
Wherefore it is hereby proclaimed to all classes of the people beneath our jurisdiction, be it known to you that the Foreign money newly issued from the Mint of Hongkong has been submitted to Assay by Officials deputed for the purpose, and that it may be used in payment of dues to the Government and in general circulation. It should not be looked upon with suspicion, doubt, or indifference.
Furthermore, we stringently prohibit the fraudulent imitation of the coinage of the Hongkong Mint by evil-disposed persons unlawfully counterfeiting it in the pursuit of gain; and, in the event of such criminal proceedings being ventured upon in disregard hereof, the guilty parties shall assuredly be seized, on discovery of their offence, and brought to justice. Let all obey this special Proclamation,
Tung Chih, 5th Year, 10th Moon, 18th Day, [November 24th, 1866.]
Translated by
(Signed,)
W. F. MAYERS, Vice-Consul
True Copy,
(Signed,)
ALEX. FRATER,
Assistant.