Coins
ins 732
ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE
OROWN ACENTS FOR THE COLONIES,
THE ABOVE REFERENCE AND THE
DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.
TEL. ADD."CROWN, LONDON"
sir,
liong Kong.
C O.
20045
Here?
IN 2 JUN 08
WHITEHALL GARDENS,
50
LONDON, S. W.
1st
June
190 8
I have the honour to trans it for the considera-
tion of the Earl of Crewe a copy of the correspondence noted in the margin with regard to the disposal of certain subsidiary silver and copper coin on behalf of the Government
of Hong Kong.
2.
11 The price of silver on the 26th ultimo was 24 16
11 per oz standard, which is a higher than the lowest this year, but about 7d per ounce below the price at which we
sold coin for the Government of the Straits Settlements in
July and August of last year.
3. It will be seen from our Bullion brokers' reports that the future of the silver market is quite uncertain, and so far as we are able to judge there would appear to be no prospect of a substantial rise in price by a reasonably early date. india is passing through a period of reat trade depression aggravated by famine and plague and until this depression passes away the market for silver is likely to continue in an exceedingly weak condition. On the other hand we do not think that the price of silver is likely to remain permanently at its present low figure, and the printed statement enclosed herewith which we have obtained from our brokers will show how widely the prices of silver
have e under secretary of State,
m
LC.
C.
10.
Colonial Uffice.