CO129-303 - Public Offices & Others - 1900 — Page 440

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Hong Kong on account of their complicated mechanism, and

the necessity of their periodical inspection by specially

trained men.

The Board understand that Messrs De La Rue

decline to undertake the construction of such Presses, and

they believe in view of their special character and the

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limited demand for them that this Department is the only

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source from which a really reliable Recording Stamping Press

can be obtained.

If, however, it be decided to adopt Recording

Presses at Hong Kong, they would suggest that Multiple Presses

(i.e. Presses carrying second dies) would be the most appro-

priate, and that in case of a breakdown they should be provided

in excess of the actual requirements. The cost of a Multiple

Recording Press to carry twelve Dies, made by this Department,

would be from £250 to £300 net, but this would be exclusive

of Messrs De La Rue's charge for the Dies and Date Plugs.

Five such Presses would probably be sufficient for providing

for actual working requirements and for a reserve. The making

of such Presses- having regard to the other work entrusted to

the Constructive Mechanical Branch of this Department- would

necessarily involve several months delay.

In regard to the 2nd process viz:

Over-embossment,

the Board think that the proposals mentioned in the Colonial

Treasurer's report will be efficient, but they may observe

that the Over-embossment completes the stamp. It does

not cancel it in the ordinary acceptation of the word, in-

asmuch as the combined (adhesive and over-embossed) Stamp

is regarded as a legally impressed Stamp and effectual for

denoting that the Duty has been properly paid. This dis-

tinction is important in view of the fact that an Adhesive

Stamp is not proper for most of the documents to which by

the process of over-embossment it is made applicable.

The system of Over-embossment proposed for Hong

Kong, the Board think may be considered a very safe one.

It is the same as that adopted in this country, and is found

to be most useful and economical in provincial towns where

Stamping Departments fully equipped with Recording and Open

Stamping Machinery and the necessary checking Staff are not,

having regard to the amount of business to be provided for,

the

considered