Banknotes of the Hong Kong dollar

Banknotes circulated by four different note issuers

Proportion by value of banknotes issued in 2003

The Government, through the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, authorises three commercial banks to issue currency notes in Hong Kong:

• The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited;
• the Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited; and
• the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited.

Authorisation is accompanied by a set of terms and conditions agreed on between the Government and the three note-issuing banks. In return for their right to issue notes and to provide backing for these notes, the three banks are legally required to hold non-interest bearing Certificates of Indebtedness (CI) issued by the Exchange Fund.[5]

Banknotes are issued by the three banks, or redeemed, against payment to, or from, the Government Exchange Fund in US dollars, at a specified rate of US$1 to HK$7.80 under the Linked Exchange Rate system.

Banknotes issued by the three commercial banks are printed in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Note Printing Limited.

In April 1996, the HKMA acquired the note printing plant at Tai Po from the De La Rue Group of the United Kingdom on behalf of the Government. The plant has been operating under the name of HKNPL since then. The acquisition of the plant enables the Government, through the HKMA, to be directly involved in the production of Hong Kong currency notes, which is in line with the responsibilities conferred upon the Government under the Legal Tender Notes Issue Ordinance and the Basic Law. In March 1997, the Government sold 15 per cent of its shareholding in HKNPL to the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, a People's Republic of China state-owned enterprise. In October 1997, the Government sold 10 per cent of HKNPL issued shares to each of the three note-issuing banks. The Government continues to exercise management control and maintains a majority stake in HKNPL, with the Chief Executive of the HKMA as the Chairman of the company.

In 2007, the bank has acquired polymer banknote technology to print the ten-dollar banknote for a trial period of two years.[3]

The HKMA issues the 10-dollar note and the other three banks issue denominations of 20 (blue), 50 (green), 100 (red), 500 (brown) and 1,000 (gold) dollars.[6]

In September 2009, Standard Chartered Bank issued the world's first 150-dollar denomination banknote, at its 150th anniversary. Approximately 750,000 notes were sold at above face value, in various combinations and presentations, as a commemorative charity issue. Although legal tender, the notes are unlikely to enter circulation, due to their rarity and expected higher re-sale value.[7]

From 13–20 February 2012, Hong Kong's Bank of China will be taking orders for a new 100-dollar note to commemorate the bank's 100th anniversary. Although legal tender, the notes aren't intended for circulation. 1,100,000 notes will be sold as numismatic products packaged in a folder for HK$150. An additional 100,000 sets of three uncut notes in a folder for HK$600. Finally, 20,000 uncut sheets of 30 notes each will be sold for HK$6,000 each. Profits from the sale of the notes will be donated to charitable organizations in Hong Kong.[8][9]

In 2015, following the example of Standard Chartered Bank, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation plans to issue a 150-dollar commemorative banknote to celebrate its 150th anniversary. It comes in a single note presented in a folder, a 3-in-1 uncut sheet presented in a folder and a 35-in-1 uncut sheet.[10][11]

Previous issuers of banknotes were Mercantile Bank of India, London and China (1853–1984), Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China (1911-1956), The National Bank of China (1891–1911), Chartered Bank (1956-1982) Oriental Bank Corporation (1845–1884), Agra and Masterman's Bank (1862–1866), The Asiatic Banking Corporation (1862–1866), and The Bank of Hindustan, China & Japan (1862–1866). All issued some or all of the denominations above.[12]

Those no longer issued include the 1, 5, and 10-cent notes along with the 1, 5, and 25-dollar notes.

The following security features are incorporated into genuine Hong Kong banknotes:

• Paper: The banknote paper is made of 100% cotton fibre, which does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light.
• Polymer: The ten-dollar banknotes are made of polymer, and have a transparent panel.
• Watermarks: The watermarks are incorporated during the paper manufacturing process. They can be viewed equally well from either side of the note. The images are multi-toned and sharp, and do not show up when placed under ultraviolet light.
• Security thread: A straight metal thread is embedded in the note. It can be viewed equally clearly from either side of the note.
• See-through features: When the note is held up to the light, the specially designed colour patterns printed on the front and back will be seen to be exactly aligned with each other.
• Intaglio printing: The main images of the notes are printed by an intaglio process that deposits a large quantity of ink on the paper, conferring a distinctively embossed feel. The fine lines of these images are clear and sharp.

In pursuance to section 103 of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap 200 of Laws of Hong Kong), anyone who wants to reproduce the whole or any part of any Hong Kong currency note for any purpose in any form must apply in writing to the Monetary Authority for approval. No reproduced images should be submitted with the application because such an action would already amount to a breach of section 103 of the Crimes Ordinance. It is a criminal offence under the Crimes Ordinance to manufacture or knowingly pass, tender or possess a counterfeit banknote. Offenders are liable to imprisonment of up to 14 years.

Adopted from the official website of Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Permission granted.

• Media related to Banknotes of Hong Kong at Wikimedia Commons
• Heiko Otto (ed.). "Historical banknotes of the Hong Kong dollar" (in English and German). Retrieved 1 March 2017.