523
circulation. Estimates of the number of silver dollars in
uge very considerably but a conservative figure is 160,000.
It would appear safe, therefore, to reckon on a circulation of Government notes amounting to between $700,000 and
$800,000. A cash reserve of 50% would be ample and the
result would be to leave a sum of at least $350,000 to be
invested in revenue-earning securities. Apart from the
initial cost of printing the notes, of which I am unable to
form an estimate, the expenses of such an issue would be
small. A shroff and one or two clerks working under the
supervision of the Financial Assistant to the Government
would be all that would be required, or, as an alternative,
I understand from the Chief Manager of the Hongkong and
Shanghai Bank that that institution would be willing to
arrange for the management of a note-issue to be undertaken
on behalf of the Government by their local agents, Messrs.
Lavers and Clark, He also informe me that if the Government
desires itself to control the management it could probably be arranged that a portion of Messrs. Lavers and Clark's
strong room should be railed off and placed at its disposal,
thus obviating the necessity of building a new strong-room. The existing Government strong-room is not suitable for
the storage of large quantities of silver).
45.
The objection which has always prevented the
establishment of a Government note issue in Hongkong
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that
it is impossible to find sufficient dollar securities for investment of a Currency Reserve, while to place it in sterling securities is too hazardous owing to the question of exchange would not, I submit, apply in the case of a small issue such as is now under consideration. There should be no difficulty in placing a sum of £350,000 in the 8% bonds of the Shanghai Municipality or the Hongkong 6% War! Loan, both dollar securities. By dividing its holding
between these two securities the Government would obtain a retum of between £21,000 & 28,000 a year, less the expenses of management
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have been
6 Rak