CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2] — Page 45

OP Y.

Translation.

4390

Enclosure 2.

(A.)

Rece

IRESE 6 FEB 13

44

Extract from Chung Ngoi San Po, Hongkong, 6th. January, 1913

Further explanation in connection with the legal tender of

the Colony.

With reference to the paragraph in our issue of the day

before yesterday under the heading "Misunderstanding should be

removed" to the effect that as stated by the Government any work-

-man in any dock or other place has the right to demand payment of

his wages to be made in Hongkong coins if under 82 and in Hongkong

notes or silver dollars if in excess of 82, though many people may

have misunderstood our meaning and supposed this was a new law to

be enacted, in reality it is nothing of the sort; for no civilized

nation should fail to uphold its own legal tender nor accept the

money of another nation at random. Thus the Hongkong Government accepts payments in Hongkong coins if under 82 and Hongkong notes if in excess of $2; and this rule is followed by most of the foreign firms, and factories. However, time and usage have led to the acceptance of the money of other nations in the Colony. As to the Tramway Company, by its original regulations, Hongkong silver only was to be accepted and it was merely in order to accord with the custom of commercial circles that Chinese coins were accepted by the Company. Now since on account of the depreciated value of the Chinese coins, the Company has sustained heavy losses and further the Government has been injuriously affected, therefore the original regulation is enforced, but it is no ordinance newly

enacted in the case.