A woman showcases the HK$10 polymer banknotes that have been approved to go on trial use within the year on Monday, March 12, 2007. The recyclable polymer note was introduced because it is more durable than paper ones and is environmentally friendly.

Workers show two bottles containing fragments of the new polymer banknotes in Hong Kong on Monday, March 12, 2007. The scraps can be reused for making polymer products. The environmentally friendly banknotes are expected to go on trial use within the year in the city.   Chinanews, Mar.13 - The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) approved Monday to issue for trial a ten-dollar polymer note this year to circulate alongside the existing ten-dollar paper notes and coins, both of which will remain legal tender, Xinhua reported.

 

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Henry Tang was quoted by Xinhua as saying that the move aims to find out whether polymer notes are suitable for issue in Hong Kong and whether the community will accept them.

 

"Experience in countries that have introduced polymer notes suggests that they are cleaner, more durable and more secure. They are also more environmentally friendly, since they last longer and can be recycled for other use. As an international and vibrant city, there is a need for Hong Kong to explore this alternative technology for currency notes," Tang said.