No. 42.
- 16 -
47
116
No. 160.
No. 44.
Copy of despatch from Officer Administering the Government, Hongkong, to
Secretary of State for Colonies.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 26th April, 1912.
SIR, Referring to your telegram of the 23rd December, 1911, I have the honour to submit for the signification of His Majesty's pleasure the following Ordinance entitled :—
An Ordinance to prohibit the importation and circulation of foreign copper and
bronze coins: No. 11 of 1912.
2. The customary report by the Attorney General is cuclosed.
I have, &c.,
Officer Administering the Government.
The Right Honourable
LEWIS HARCOURT, M.F.,
40..
&c.,
&c.
Short title.
Prohibition
of foreign
ENCLOSURE I IN No. 44.
HONGKONG.
No. 11 or 1912.
CLAUD SEVERN,
An Ordinance to prohibit the importation and
circulation of foreign copper and bronze coins.
I assent to this Ordinance.
CLAUD SEVERN,
Officer Administering the Government.
[16th April, 1912.]
Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Foreign Copper Coin Ordinance, 1912.
2. The importation and circulation of all of importa-kinds of copper or bronze coins, other than those circalation specified in Her Majesty's Order in Council dated copper and the second day of February, 1895, and published bronze wins. in the Gazette of the thirtieth day of March, 1895, and other than Chinese cash, are pro- hibited.
Penalty for importing without or in con- travention
of licence.
3.-(1.) If any person imports or attempts to import any coin the importation of which is prohibited by this Ordinance he shall be liable on summary conviction if the coin be of the amount of five dollars in nominal value or up- wards, to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and in any event, unless the Magistrate is satisfied that the coin imported was not in- tended for use in the Colony, the coin so im- ported or attempted to be imported shall be forfeited.
(2.) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any coin imported under a licence in writing under the hand of the Colonial Secre- tary. Every such licence shall specify the terms on which such coin may be imported.
(3.) If any person importing coin under any such licence fail to comply with any of the termas of such licence he shall be liable on summary conviction to the fine and forfeiture to which he would have been liable if the licence had not been granted.
4-(1.) If any person circulates or attempts Penalty for to circulate any coin the circulation of which is circulation. prohibited by this Ordinance, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars and the coin so circulated or attempted to be circulated shall be forfeited.
(2.) For the purposes of this section a person Definition shall be deerned to circulate coin if he tenders, exemption.
utters, buys, sells, receives or pays it, or puts it off, provided always that a person shall not be deemed to circulate coin if he gives such coin to a bona fide banker or to a licensed money- changer either in exchange for other coins or notes or for any other purpose and provided also that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any bona fide banker or to any licensed money-changer.
and
5. This Ordinance shall come into operation Cominence.
on the first day of July, 1912.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong,
this 15th day of April, 1912.
R. H. CROPTON,
Clerk of Councils.
Assented to by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, the 16th day of April, 1912.
C. CLEMENTI,
Colonial Secretary.
ENCLOSURE 2 x No. 44.
ment.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS,
HONGKONG, 24th April, 1912.
Report on Ordinance No. 11 of 1912.
I have examined the accompanying Ordinance entitled
"An Ordinance to prohibit the importation and circulation of foreign copper and bronze coins.'
and I am of opinion that the Ordinance is one which is not contrary to the Governor's Instructions,
Up to recently Hongkong copper coin was at a very large discount but recent measures for redemption has reduced it to a figure which it is considered cannot be further reduced without legislation on account of the free circulation of foreign coins.