However, some offices still ask to see foreign exchange certificates before accepting payment in rupees.

A foreign exchange certificate, sometimes abbreviated to FEC, is a type of currency.

Foreigners are supposed to use an official currency, called the foreign exchange certificate, which is different from the common renminbi used by the Chinese.

However, the government still needed masses of paper product for the exchange certificates and the state's new issuing of paper money.

In addition, embassies and foreign companies with representative offices in China can no longer change foreign exchange certificates into hard currency, the official said.

No one exchanges money at the official rate (except to buy airline tickets) so no exchange certificates are ever checked.

The old Friendship Stores accepted only foreign exchange certificates as currency.

The retail chain Beriozka also sold some Western clothing, but only to the privileged few who could pay in hard currency or foreign exchange certificates.

Foreign exchange certificates and Western clothing were also available on the black market.

Burma has a complex foreign exchange system with black markets, foreign exchange certificates, and multiple exchange rates.