1903 — Page 323

(R3)

LAW AFFECTING CURRENCY,

1. Ordinance No. 6 of 1865, sections 13 and 20.—This Onlinaure relates to the offence of forging Bank Nates.

1. Ordinance No. 10 of 1865.—Offences against Coinage, but szetions 4,5, 16, 17,26 and 27 not in force by

Proclamation in Gazette of 21st October, 1865, nuder the Ordiuntee.

1. Ordinance No, 19 of 1895,—Defacing or Chopping British Dollars.

1. Order in Council of 2nd February, 1895, published in Government Gazette Extrunrdinary of 30th March,

1895, declares that Mexican Dollars, flongkong 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 cent or one-hundredth part of the said Dollars shall ho 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 sum uot

execeding Une Dollar,

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

1. The Silver Dollar of Mexico,

1. The Hongkong Dollar and Half-Dollar issued from Her Majesty's Mint, nt Hongkong.

1. The British Dollar.

1. Silver Coins issuel from Her Majesty's Mint, representing—

(1) One-half of the said Dollar commonly called Fifty-Cent Pivre :

(ii) One-fifth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Twenty-Cent Piece ;

(iii) One-tenth part of the sniý Dollar, commonly called Five-Cent Picco ; und (iv) One-twentieth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Five-Cent Fiere. 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-thousanth part of the said Dollar, and eámonly calle 1 Mil or Cash.

The Army into of exchange for issue of Silver Dollars to His Majesty's troops is now fixed quarterly by

the Imperial Teasury.

The rate for first quarter of 1903 was 18, for second quarter 17, for third quarter 17 and for fourth

quarter 1/9 per Dollar,

AMOUNT OF COIN IN CIRCULATION.

Approximate amount of Hongkong Dollars and Half-Dollars struck at the Hongkong Mint,. $1,421,487.00 Approximate amount of Hongkong Silver and Copper Subsidiary Coins (50, 20, 10 und 5- | Cent pieces; and 1-Cont and Mil pieces) put into circulation up to 31st Degrinher, 1903,

$39,783,125.00

It is impossible to state how many of the abwe Coins, and of voius of other denominations are in circulation, but the probability is that of the Hongkong Silver Coins there is not 2 per rent, of the total issue at the prosent

t'me within the Colony.

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