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CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG
Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, constituting the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain Dated 19th
and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India: To all January, 1898. to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.
Whereas, by our Charter under the Great Seal of our United Kingdom Preamble. of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the fifth day Recites Charter of April, 1843, we did erect our Island of Hongkong and its dependencies of5th April, 1843. into a separate Colony, to be known and designated as the Colony of Hong- kong, and did make provision for the Government of our said Colony:
February, 1881.
And whereas by our Order in our Privy Council, bearing date the Recites Order in fourth day of February, 1861, in the twenty-fourth year of our reign, it Council of 4th was ordered that the Kowloon district therein described should be part and parcel of our said Colony:
Patent of 9th
And whereas we did, by certain Letters Patent under our said Great Recites Letters Seal, bearing date Westminster the ninth day of April, 1877, constitute, April, 1877. order, and declare that there should be a Governor and Commander-in- Chief in and over our Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies:
And whereas we are minded to make further provision for the govern- ment of our said Colony:
I.-Now we do by these presents revoke our said Charter and our Revokes Charter said Letters Patent, but without prejudice to anything lawfully done and Letters Pa- thereunder.
tent recited.
II. We do declare that there shall be a Governor and Commander- office f Gover- in-Chief in and over our Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies (therein. nor constituted. after called the Colony), and that appointments to the said office shall be made by Commission under our sign manual and signet.
authorities.
III.—We do hereby authorize, empower, and command our said Go- Governor's vernor and Commander-in-Chief (hereinafter called the Governor) to do powers and and execute all things that belong to his said office, according to the tenor of these our Letters Patent and of such Commission as may be issued to him under our sign manual and signet, and according to such instructions Instructions. as may from time to time be given to him under our sign mantial and signet, or by our Order in our Privy Council, or by us through one of our principal Secretaries of State, and to such laws as are now or shall here- after be in force in the Colony.
IV. And we do by these our Letters Patent declare our will and pleasure as follows:-
mission.
V.-Every person appointed to fill the office of Governor of the Publication of Colony shall with all due solemnity, before entering upon any of the duties Governor's Com- of his office, cause the commission appointing him to be Governor to be read and published in the presence of the Chief Justice or other judge of the Supreme Court, and of such members of the Executive Council of the
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