CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 447

C

445

sight of is the convenience of trade, which is promoted by

the free circulation of bullion, just as it suffers restrict-

ion now from the occasional delays in the receipts of coins

both from England and from India.

andfrom

6. Finally, it is, I venture to say, well

worth consideration whether, in view of the complex nature of

the difficulties that beset our path at the present moment

in China, and of the fact that the Mexican coin is getting so

very scarce, a British dollar, bearing the image and superscrip-

tion of Her Most Gracious Majesty should not be issued for

circulation wherever acceptable in the Chinese Empire. Not

only would such a provision assist in upholding British pres-

tige generally, but it would powerfully aid in the preserva-

tion of the commercial supremacy which Great Britain has so

long enjoyed in China, and for the continuance of which we

are all naturally most solicitous.

(sd) C.P.Chater.

HongKong.25th.Sept.1900.