XN000022-1994-01-01+02 — Page 4

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2, 1994

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$10 GOLD COIN ON SALE THIS WEEK

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PROSPECTIVE

BUYERS OF A STRICTLY LIMITED EDITION OF THE HONG KONG COMMEMORATIVE $10 GOLD COIN, WHICH IS OF GREAT INTRINSIC VALUE AND HISTORICAL INTEREST, ARE REMINDED TO APPLY FOR A SINGLE PURCHASE WITHIN THIS WEEK.

THE OF

"SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, BRITISH ROYAL MINT HAS STRUCK A LIMITED EDITION OF JUST 20,000 THESE COINS," A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG MONETARY AUTHORITY SAID.

TO

"THEY ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN SMALL QUANTITIES COLLECTORS AROUND THE WORLD, WITH A MAJORITY OF 18,000 RESERVED FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS. NO FURTHER SUCH COINS WILL BE STRUCK," HE ADDED.

AS DEMAND IS EXPECTED TO BE HIGH, EVERY APPLICANT MAY GET ONLY ONE COIN. A BALLOT WILL BE HELD IF THE COINS ARE OVER-SUBSCRIBED.

"IT IS THE FIRST-EVER TWO-GOLD ALLOY COIN IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG'S COINAGE, AND COMMEMORATES THE INTRODUCTION OF HONG KONG'S NEW COIN DESIGNS PRIOR TO 1997, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

LI

IT FEATURES THE BLOOM OF ONE OF HONG KONG'S MOST BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTAL TREES, THE BAUHINIA BLAKEANA, WHICH WAS SELECTED AS HONG KONG'S OFFICIAL EMBLEM IN 1965.

"THIS COIN IS OF THE SAME SIZE AND DESIGN AS THE NEW HK$10 COIN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED INTO GENERAL CIRCULATION LATER THIS YEAR.

"BUT THERE THE SIMILARITY ENDS, BECAUSE THE OUTER RING OF THIS RARE ISSUE IS CAST IN A BLEND OF NINE-CARAT GOLD WITH THE BALANCE IN SILVER, WHILST THE CENTRE SECTION CONSISTS OF 22-CARAT GOLD,

THE

SPOKESMAN SAID.

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HE ADDED THAT THE GOLD COIN WAS ALSO LEGAL TENDER IN HONG KONG.

THE $10 GOLD COIN, DATED 1994, IS PRICED AT $2,888. CONTAINED IN AN ATTRACTIVE RED PRESENTATION CASE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY, IT IS BOTH A GOLDEN ASSET FOR THE FUTURE AND A GIFT TO TREASURE.

THOSE INTERESTED IN THE GOLD COIN SHOULD COLLECT THE APPLICATION FORMS BETWEEN TOMORROW (MONDAY) AND SATURDAY (JANUARY

8) FROM DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE 10 HONGKONGBANK BRANCHES IN THE HONG KONG MAIN OFFICE, CHINA BUILDING, WAYFOONG HOUSE, AT DES VOEUX ROAD WEST, PATERSON STREET, AND IN KWUN TONG, MONG KOK, NORTH POINT, TSUEN WAN AND YUEN LONG.

COMPLETED FORMS TOGETHER WITH A BANKER'S CASHIER ORDER OR A CROSSED CHEQUE MUST BE RETURNED TO ONE OF THESE DESIGNATED HONGKONGBANK BRANCHES BEFORE 12.30 PM ON SATURDAY. THE COINS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED FROM JANUARY 31 (MONDAY) ONWARDS.

IN LOCAL

ALL NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SALES WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT, WHOLE OR IN PART, SELECTED PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

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