716174-1864-HONGKONG-ANNO-VICESIMO-SEPTIMO-VICTORIE-REGINE-NO-2-OF-1864- — Page 1

76

Title.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 27TH FEBRUARY, 1864.

Empowering the

a Mint.

Master to be em-

HONGKONG.

ANNO VICESIMO SEPTIMO VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.

No. 2 of 1864.

By His Excellency SIR HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON, Knight, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice- Admiral of the same, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON.

An Ordinance for establishing a Mint in the Colony of Hongkong.

[26th February, 1864.]

Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:--

I. That a Mint be established in Hongkong on such site as the Governor or Officer Governor to establish administering the Government of the Colony may approve; that a Chief Officer To appoint a Master. thereof shall be appointed under the title of Master, who shall be empowered to powered to coin Silver Coin Silver Coin of such weight and fineness and of such designs as may from time to time be approved by Her Majesty, from Dies to be furnished by the Master of the Royal Mint under such Regulations as may be prescribed by the Lords Commis- sioners of Her Majesty's Treasury.

Coin.

Regulations for recep-

Bullion, &c.

Governor to frame II. That it may be lawful for the Governor or Officer administering the Govern- tion at Mint of Silver ment of the Colony, by and with the advice of the Executive Council, to frame Regulations under which the Mint shall receive Silver Bullion and coin the same; and to authorize the retention (without reference to any charge which may be imposed for the expense of refining such Bullion) of such proportion thereof, or of the Coin struck therefrom, by way of a Mint charge or seignorage, as shall be sufficient to defray the expenses attending the coinage; and to alter or amend such Regulations from time to time as may be found

Empowering Master

necessary.

III. That the Master be empowered subject to the approval of the Governor or to enter into contracts, Officer administering the Government of the Colony, to enter into such Contracts and to establish such Regulations for the orderly and convenient performance of the duties of the Mint as may be found necessary.

subject to Governor's approval.

Appointing four other principal Officers.

Superintendent of Bullion Office.

Assayer.

Superintendent of Coining Department and Machinery.

IV. That four other principal Officers of the Mint shall be appointed.

1st. The Superintendent of the Bullion Office, who shall be responsible to the Master for the receipt of Bullion and the delivery of coin by the Mint; the safe custody of the same while in charge of his department; the faithful conduct and accurate record of all transactions with the public, and with the assaying, melting and coining departments of the Mint, including the Store, Cash, Bul- lion, and other account; for the proper registering and safe custody of docu- ments; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Master may direct him to perform.

2nd. The Assayer who will be responsible to the Master for the correct assay of all Bullion brought to the Mint to be assayed or coined; for the correct assay of the bars cast for rolling and of the coin struck at the Mint; for the records thereof being kept with care and precision; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Master may direct him to perform. 3rd. The Superintendent of the Coining Department and Machinery, who will be responsible to the Master for the Bullion delivered into his charge by the Su- perintendent of the Bullion Office; for its conversion into Coin of the legal weight, properly stamped with the authorized dies; for the safe custody and legitimate use of the dies; for the operations of his department being properly and economically conducted; for the records thereof being kept with care and precision; and for the faithful and zealous discharge of any other duties which the Master or his representative may direct him to perform.