Hong Kong five-cent note facts for kids

The Hong Kong five-cent note was a special paper money bill. The government of Hong Kong first released it on October 16, 1941. It was printed by a company called Noronha and Company Limited.

This small bill was created because there wasn't enough metal money (coins) during the Second World War. People needed small change to buy everyday things.

Why Was It Made?

During the Second World War, many countries faced challenges. Hong Kong was one of them. There was a shortage of metal, which meant fewer coins could be made. To solve this problem, the government decided to print small paper notes instead. This way, people could still make small purchases. The five-cent note helped keep the economy running smoothly.

What Did It Look Like?

The very first five-cent notes were small, about 85 millimeters wide and 48 millimeters tall.

• The front side was green.
• It had a unique serial number with seven digits.
• Most of the writing on the front was in English.
• However, the words "Government of Hong Kong" were also written in Chinese.
• The back side of the note was blue.
• It showed the value of the note (five cents) in both English and Chinese.

What Happened Next?

After a period, Japan took control of Hong Kong during the war. When this happened, the Hong Kong five-cent note was replaced. The new money used was called the Japanese military yen.

Once Japan surrendered in 1945, the war ended. Hong Kong's original money, the dollar, was brought back. A new version of the five-cent note was issued.

• These new notes were green on one side.
• They featured a picture of the British monarch (the King or Queen of Britain).
• Unlike the first notes, these did not have serial numbers.
• The government stopped printing these notes after 1965.