CO129-271 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1896 [1-4] — Page 172

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manufacture of shillings had been given up for upwards of

a year.

In consequence of information received from

the Dutch Consul on the 31st. ultimo a very careful search

was made of the passengers' luggage on board the S, S, *Ca-

therine Apcar* but without result; the Consul's informant

then statea that Dutch Guilaers were made in Fatshan and

also at a place in the Hing Wing District which he could

not give the name of.

There is no doubt that all manner of silver

coins are made in South China, according to the demand and

the facilities for placing them on suitable markets,but

undoubtedly the Kwangtung coins are the ones principally

manufactured the standard of fineness not being strictly

adhered to,varying with the Senior Chinese Official in

charge at the time, and the dies being easily obtainable

the spurious coins are about as good as the standard ones;

moreover the market is on the spot and this Colony suffers.

HongKong coins come next in order, but airectly it comes to

European coins with one regular standard the risk of ae-

tection is much increased and the machinery of the native

coiners is cruce. The same applies with added force to other

European or Indian coins, small numbers may have been struck

to fill a temporary de..and but transport and exportation

enhance the difficulties in China and requce the profits.

Shillings and rupees are much more likely

to be made in Germany and could be more easily placed on

their