Straits Settlements
and (2) to make that coin legal tender in Hongkong at the same time to regulate the existing currency of the Colony, should both be drafted in such a way as to make the British Dollar a standard coin concurrently with the Mexican dollar, whether and if practicable also concurrently with the other Coin already recognised in those Colonies respectively.
It seems expedient that the British Dollar in each case being mentioned first should be placed in a subordinate position to the Mexican dollar, while at the same time there should be no necessity to displace the Mexican dollar from its status as a standard coin.
Lord Ripon trusts that their Lordships will be able to give directions for the drafts of the proposed Orders before they are issued to be prepared in this sense, and will be glad to have an opportunity of seeing the drafts before the Orders are issued.
I am to enclose for convenience of reference copies of the local Ordinance of 1864, and of the two Proclamations issued under that Ordinance.