CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 181

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of 1895 to fit the existing HongKong Stamping Machines.

It appears that at least as a temporary

measure our present stamping Machines could be used if hand

rollers and specially prepared embossing ink were supplied ·

but as the embossing would have to be in colour Messrs.De La

Rue & Co, should be asked to furnish information as to wheth-

er the drying of the embossing ink is instantaneous as this

+

is an emportant factor in stamping rapidly a large number of

documents.

The reasons for suggesting a reference

to Messrs.De La Rue & Co on the above points are that it is

only experts who can say if for the new stamps, new plates we

requisite or whether they can be safely made by altering the

Existing plates and having overprint plates.

It is suggested that cheques be exempted

from the proposed system, the Managers of the respective Banka

being asked to furnish to the Colonial Treasurer monthly a

statement of cheques stamped for them.

The introduction of the proposed system

would entail an increase to the staff of the stamp Office of

an extra Shroff for issuing the stamps and one or two boys

for affixing the stamps.

As soon as Messrs.De La Rue & Co 's est-

imates are received and the Secretary of State sanctions the

scheme and the necessary expenditure, a draft ordinance can be

drawn and alse careful rules for dealing with spoiled stamps

Messrs.