Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 101

5933/07 C.S.O.

COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,

HONGKONG, 6th August, 1907.

SIR,-I am directed by His Excellency the Governor to enquire whether you will be good enough to assist the Government by serving on a Committee under the Chairmanship of the Colonial Treasurer to enquire into the causes of the depreciation of the subsidiary coinage of the Colony, and to advise as to what means can be taken, with due regard to the interests of trade, to re-habilitate such coinage.

The names of the other gentlemen who have been invited to join the Committee are (here give names).

The Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.

The Hon. Mr. EDWARD OSBORNE.

A. G. WOOD, Esq.

J. R. M. SMITH, Esq.

D. R. Law, Esq.

R. SHEWAN, Esq.

J. ARMSTRONG, Esq.

A. J. RAYMOND, Esq.

No. 35.

I have, &c.,

F. H. MAY, Colonial Secretary.

TREASURY, HONGKONG, 6th November, 1907.

SIR,-AS Chairman of the Committee appointed to enquire into the matter of the condition of the Subsidiary Coinage of the Colony I have the honour to transmit for con- sideration of the Government the following documents, viz.:-

A.-Report of four members.

B.-Draft Bill suggested in paragraph 14 thereof.

C.-Notes on the Governor's minute of the 20th August, 1907.

D.-Report by Mr. J. ARMSTRONG.

E-Note by the Hon. Mr. E. OSBORNE who had left the Colony before the third

meeting.

F.-Report by three members of the Committee.

G.-Reporter's notes of proceedings at the three meetings held.*

I may add that it would only mean an interminable controversy if the signatories to Report A were to reply to the comments of the signatories to Report F on the former.

The Honourable,

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

&C..

&c.,

&c.

* Not printed.

I have, etc.,

A. M. THOMSON,

Treasurer.