much
185
time will not be sufficient to incur danger
of a large influx of H. Kong subsidiary coins
from the adjacent Provinces of China. It will,
however, be essential to maintain absolute
secrecy as to the intentions of the Govt.
to be
until what is considered an adequate supply of
A
the new coins is in 1. Kong and ready for
issue.
3
The Gov. will be asked to supply the nearest
estimate he can fatame (without approaching
the Banks in any manner that might arouse
suspicion) of the total amount of subsidiary
silver coin required for use in the Colony,
and it is proposed that the Royal Mint shall
then be authorized to proceed with the coinage.
The design should be sfficiently
different from
that of the present coins to avoid confusion,
and Mr. Harcourt is of opinion that the fine-
ness of the new coins should be .900 only, as
in the case of the latest S.S. subsidiary
silver coins. The reduction of fineness will
cover, or at any rate go far towards cover-
ing, the expense of coinage.
It will be observed from the Gov.'s desp.
of the 26th of June that the Colonial Govt.