179
16
273
of 1895 to fit the existing HongKong Stamping Machines.
It appears that at least as a temporary
measure our present stamping Machines could be used if hand
rollers and specially prepared embossing ink were supplied ·
but as the embossing would have to be in colour Messrs.De La
Rue & Co, should be asked to furnish information as to wheth-
er the drying of the embossing ink is instantaneous as this
+
is an emportant factor in stamping rapidly a large number of
documents.
The reasons for suggesting a reference
to Messrs.De La Rue & Co on the above points are that it is
only experts who can say if for the new stamps, new plates we
requisite or whether they can be safely made by altering the
Existing plates and having overprint plates.
It is suggested that cheques be exempted
from the proposed system, the Managers of the respective Banka
being asked to furnish to the Colonial Treasurer monthly a
statement of cheques stamped for them.
The introduction of the proposed system
would entail an increase to the staff of the stamp Office of
an extra Shroff for issuing the stamps and one or two boys
for affixing the stamps.
As soon as Messrs.De La Rue & Co 's est-
imates are received and the Secretary of State sanctions the
scheme and the necessary expenditure, a draft ordinance can be
drawn and alse careful rules for dealing with spoiled stamps
Messrs.