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.

A security guard looks at a banner featuring the China's currency?renminbi outside a branch of the Bank of China in Hong Kong Sept. 8, 2009. (CFP file photo)

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.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2009)