Com
624
6.
Of the two proposals of the Board the first,
namely that the Chinese coinage should be made illegal and
abolished is not practicable.
Chinese coins are not legal
tender in Hongkong and it is open to everyone to refuse to
accept them, but to make it punishable by law to possess
such coins or to offer or accept payments in them would
fill the gaols of the Colony and at the same time would
deal a serious if not mortal blow to the large traffic and
petty trade which goes on between Hongkong and Canton. As
Your Lordship is doubtless aware some 4,000 people daily
come and go between the two places. For currency purposes
Hongkong is and must remain an integral portion of the
Chinese Empire and it is no more possible to exclude Chinese
subsidiary coins from the Colony than it is to exclude
dollars and establish a gold currency there.
7.
As regards the second proposal of the Board
that this Government should "give instructions to their
officials not to tender Chinese money in exchange for Hong
Kong coinage" I presume dollars and dollar notes are in-
tended by Hongkong coinage. Such instructions are already
in force and breaches of them must be rare as none have
been brought to my notice.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
Governor, &c.
Page 630Page 631