1902 — Page 304

(R3)

LAW AFFECTING CURRENCY.

1. Ordinance No. 6 of 1865, sectious 13 and 20.—This Ordinance relates to the offence of forging Bank Notes.

2. Ordinowe No. 10 of 1865.—Offences against Coinage, but sections 4, 5, 16, 17, 26 and 27 not in force by Proclamation in Gazette of 21st October, 18655, under the Ordinance.

3. Ordinance re Chopping Dollars,

4. Order in Council of 2nd February, 1895, published in Greernment Gazette Extraordinary of 30th March, 1895, declares that Mexican Dollars, Hongkong Dollars and British Dollars or other Silver Dollars of equivalent value duly authorised by the Governor of Hongkong shall be the only legal tender, and provides that Silver Coins representing some multiple of the rent or une-hundredth part of the said Dollars shall be a legal tender for any sum not exceeding Two Dollars, and that Copper or Bronze Coins representing the cent or one-hundredth part, or the mil or cash representing one-thousandth part of the Dollar shall be a legal tender for any sun not excoeding One Dollar.

The above Currency consists of the following Coins, viz, :—

1. The Silver Dollar of Mexico.

2. The Hongkong Dollar and Half-Dollar issued from Her Majesty's Mint, at Hongkong.

3. The British Dollar,

4. Silver Coins issued from Her Majesty's Mint, representing—

(i) One-half of the said Dollar commonly called Fifty-Cent Piece;

(ii) One-Afth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Twenty-Cent Picce; (iii) One-tenth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Five-Cent Piece; and (iv) One-twentieth part of the sand Dollar, commonly called Five-Cent Piece, 5. Copper or Bronze Coins, also issued from Her Majesty's Mint representing-

(i) One-hundredth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called One Cent; and (ii) One-thousandth part of the said Dollar, and commonly called Mil or Cash,

The Army rate of exchange for issue of Silver Dollars to His Majesty's troops is now fixed quarterly by the Imperial Treasury.

The rate for first quarter of 1902 was 1 11, for second quarter 1 10, for third quarter 1,9, and for fourth quarter 1,8 per Dollar,

AMOUNT OF COEN IN CIRCULATI N.

Approximate amount of Hongkong Dollars and Half-Dollars struck at the Hongkong Mint......$1,421,487.0).

Approximate amount of Hongkong Silver and Copper Subsidiary Coins (50, 20, 10 aut 5- | Gout pieces; and 1-Cent and Mil pieces) put int. cireulation up to 14 Diezube", 1992,

$36, 193.125.00

It is impossible to state how many of the ale Coins, and of moins of otluer denominations are in virealati on, but the probability is that of the Hongkong Silver Coins there is not 2 per ovut, of the total issne at tire present time within the Colony,

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