It would be profitable to the Government to issue Promissory Notes irrespective of an amount not exceeding $10, $20, $30.
A much lower rate should be charged according to the present tariff under Section XXV of the original Ordinance (12 of 1866) which gives power to adopt these or similar rates by an Order in Council, which should, I consider, apply to both European and Chinese alike.
It would be well also if the Order added (under Section viii) that all such Short-term Promissory Notes, if in Chinese, be drawn on paper to be provided for the purpose, or in books to be supplied by the Collector, as it is now with the Chinese to make one stamp serve for several Notes by using a long piece of paper and cutting off the written part.
Should these suggestions be early approved, I shall take opportunity of submitting the question of a revision and consolidation of the Stamp Ordinances.