(
17
562
may in other ways adversely affect property in
the Colony and consequently mortgages and other
questions relating to proje rty.
After closely considering the many aspects
of the subject as presented to me I cannot but
hold to my original opinion viz that on the whole
the balance of argument is agd nst our having a
gold standard in Hong Kong until such time as
China our chief trading connection also adopts
a gold standard.
I come to this conclusion with reluctance
as in common with other residents in the Colony
my personal interests lie in the opposite direc-
-tion, but I give my opinion solely in what I
believe to be the true interests of the Colony.
HONG KONG, 15th March 1903.
Note.
The above memo rand um has been written as a
reply to the arguments brought forward by the
advocates for a change of currency at the meeting
of the Chamber of Commerce, it does not profess
to deal with the question in its entirety.
There are many other points which must be con-
sidered before a final conclusion can be arrived
at such as for instance the question of loan in
a