r - Using non-ASCII characters inside functions for packages -

i'm trying write function equivalent scales::dollar adds pound (£) symbol beginning of figure. since scales code robust, i've used framework , replaced $ £.

a stripped-down function example:

pounds<-function(x) paste0("£",x) 

when run check following:

found following file non-ascii characters:   pounds.r portable packages must use ascii characters in r code, except perhaps in comments. use \uxxxx escapes other characters. 

looking through writing r extensions guide doesn't give lot of (imo) on how resolve issue. mentions \uxxxx , says refers unicode characters.

looking unicode characters yields me code &#163 guidance can find \uxxxx minimal , relates java on w3schools.

my question thus:

how implement usage of non-unicode characters in r functions using \uxxxx escapes , how usage affect display of such characters after function has been used?

for \uxxxx escapes, need know hexadecimal number of character. can determine using chartoraw:

sprintf("%x", as.integer(chartoraw("£"))) [1] "a3" 

now can use specify non-ascii character. both \u00a3 , £ represent same character.