Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, Feb. 2ist, 1877. Srr,—The Managers of the Banks estab. lished in Hongkong having forwarded to the Committee of the Chamber copy ofa despatch addressed to you by. them on the 16th instant, respecting the coinage and issue by Her Majesty's Government of a dollar coin, equal in fineness and weight to the Mexican' dollar, for circulation in this and other colonies, Lam requested to address you on the subject, and to express the full concurrence of this Chamber with the tenour of the despatch in question, It is unnecessary to recapitulate the argu-monte 80 forcibly set forth by ite writers, as to the advantages of having such a coin produced under the guarautes of H. B. M. Government, th i from the occasional interruptions of supplies from Mexico, and the unfitness of relying upon any foreign country to furnish the current coin of British colonies. The opportunity whit would be afforded of ug into China generally lik doliae and the possibly eventual re-estaldishment of the Hongkong Mint, form addi favour of the project. And th would only add to fully discussed in th suggestion that Her Majesty' he urged to bestow ite immediate and careful attention on the subject.
have therefore the hon Zot ill Tay, Us communication before Excellency the Governor, wil informing the Sreretary of State for Colonies of the opinion of the Chamber. (Sd) W. Keswiex, Chairman, The Hon. J. Gardiner Austin, C.M.
Colouiut Secretary, No, 120.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 23r Feb., 1877.
Sin,—In reply to your letter of the 2tst instant, Lam directed to inform you that His Excellency the Governor will recommend a scheme proposed by such competent authority to the early consideration of Her Majesty's Governmen (81) J. Ganpiser Avsns, Colonial Secretary. The Honorable W. Keswick, amber of Commerce.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.