Royal Mint, to Crown Agents.
15th June 1899.
C.O.
18317
RECO Peep 15 JUL
137
Kong £466 Coin.
1.at
to
Gentlemen,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, stating that the Government of Hong Kong now desire that the shipments to the Colony of silver subsidiary coin, in ten and five cent pieces, should be limited to the amount which will be produced from the bullion already purchased, namely 1,500,000 ounces standard.
In these circumstances, it is proposed to prepare for shipment by the next mail steamer a further consignment of coin consisting of at least $250,000 in 10 and 5 cent pieces, and as it will be greatly to the convenience of the Department to proceed for a time uninterruptedly with the Imperial Coinage, the Hong Kong Coinage will be suspended for a few weeks and shipment of further consignments will be deferred until the third week in August, from which date onwards, it is hoped that fortnightly deliveries will be made until the indent is complete.
I may add that the total quantity of five cents will probably amount to between 200,000 and 250,000 dollars.
I am, etc.
(Signed) A. J. Pope.