17. During the year the Unallocated Stores varied as under:
Balance at 31st December 1930 1931
Public Works Department $546,580 $517,248
Kowloon Canton Railway... 141,811 163,545
688,391 680,793
SUBSIDIARY COIN.
18. The amount shown in the Statement was made up as under.
50 cents 20
10 } 5
" copper $
373.50 124,521.40 1,169,339.70
1,696.30 875.- $1,296,805.90
during the year and The new piece is of (Grammes 4.050) and
19. A new one cent piece was coined put into circulation on the 1st December. mixed metal (bronze) weighing grains 62.5 is much smaller than the old one cent piece which weighs grains 115.75 (Grammes 7.501). Its appearance met with warm approval by the public and it was necessary immediately to indent for further supplies. The nominal amount of Subsidiary Coin in circulation was $17,924,370.
TRADE LOAN.
20. Thirteen loans were paid off reducing the number outstanding at the end of the year to nineteen amounting to $1,232,579.76. Up to the 31st December 1931 $14,323,990.91 of the amount of $15,633,582.97 outstanding had been recovered. It was again found necessary in three cases to resort to enforcement of securities. Power of sale was duly exercised as favourable opportunities arose, the principal sums lent were fully recovered, overdue interest being foregone.
21. The Working Account or Reserve to which interest is credited increased by $154,382.09 to $1,045,389.41 and is now only $187,190.35 short of the Capital Account at the end of the year.