The Ministry of Finance started selling Renminbi bonds worth 6 billion yuan (878.5 million US dollars) in Hong Kong on Monday.

It is the first time the central government has issued yuan-denominated treasury bonds outside the Chinese mainland.

The sales period of the bonds will run from Sept. 28 to Oct. 20. Interest will be paid half a year based on its issuance date of Oct. 27, said the ministry.

An interest rate of 2.25 percent will be paid for the two-year bond, 2.7 percent for the three-year bond, and 3.3 percent for the five-year bond.