1909 — Page 428

(R 3)

LAW AFFECTING CURRENCY.

1. Ordinaner No. 4 of 1865, sections 13 and 20.—This Ordinance relates to the offence of forging Bank Notes,

2. Ordinance No. 7 of 1865.—Offences against Coinage.

3. Ordinance No. 7 of 1895,-Defucing or Chopping British Dollars.

4. Order in Council of 2nd February, 1895, published in Government 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 soma multiple of the rent or one hundredth part of the said Dollars shall be a legal tender for any

sum not execeding 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 not excceding

Que Dollar.

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

1. The Silver Dollar of Mexico,

2. The Hongkong Dollar und Half-Dotlar issued from Her Majesty's Mint at Hongkong.

3. The British Dollar.

4. Silver Coins issued from His Majesty's Mint, representing-

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

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

(iii) One-tenth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Ten-Cent Piece;

(iv) One-twentieth part of the said Dollar, commonly called Five-Cent Piece; and

5. Copper or Bronze Coius, also issued from His Majesty's Mint representing—

(i) One-hundredth part of said Dollar, and commonly called One Cent ; and

(ii) One-thousandıh part of 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 1909 was 1'8, for second quarter 1'8, for third quarter 18, and for fourth quarter

1,8 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 and 5- Cent pieces; and 1-Cont and Mil pieces) put into circulation,.................

Amount withdrawn from circulation and sold as bullion,

$ 43,999,830.00

.. 5,098,359.04

Balance (approximate) in circulation,.....................................

38,901,470.96