10 Dollars

Waterlow & Sons printed this series for HSBC throughout the late colonial period, a time when Hong Kong's population was swelling rapidly with refugees from the mainland following the Communist victory in 1949. Demand for low-denomination notes in everyday commerce was intense, and this note circulated hard — heavily worn examples are the rule, not the exception.

The P#179A designation covers a decade-long span, meaning date-specific examples from the early 1950s trade at a measurable premium over later issues. Collectors should check the printed date carefully.