446
Oaths to be taken
by Governor.
Imperial Act 31 32 Viet,, cap.
72.
Public Seal.
Constitution of Executive Coun- cil.
Constitution of
Legislative
Council.
Governor, with
advice and con-
CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG
Colony as can conveniently attend; which being done he shall then and there take before them the Oath of Allegiance in the form provided by an Act passed in the session holden in the thirty-first and thirty-second years- of our reign, intitled "An Act to amend the law relating to Promissory Oaths "; and likewise the usual oath for the due execution of the office of Governor, and for the due and impartial administration of justice; which oaths the said Chief Justice or judge, or if they be unavoidably absent, the senior member of the Executive Council then present, is hereby required to administer.
VI. The Governor shall keep and use the public seal of the Colony for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the said public seal.
VII. The Executive Council of the Colony shall consist of such persons as we shall direct by any instructions under our sign manual and signet, and all such persons shall hold their places in the said Council during our pleasure.
VIII. The Legislative Council of the Colony shall consist of such persons as we shall direct by any instructions under our sign manual and signet, and such persons shall hold their places in the said Council during our pleasure.
IX. The Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the sent of Council, Legislative Council, may make laws for the peace, order, and good govern-
ment of the Colony.
to make Laws,
Disallowance of
Laws.
Power of Legis- iation reserved to the Crown.
Land grants.
Governor em- powered to apɔ-
X.-We do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full power and authority to disallow, through one of our principal Secretaries of State, any such law as aforesaid. Every such disallowance shall take effect from the time when the same shall be promulgated by the Governor in the Colony.
XI. We do also reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, our and their undoubted right, with advice of our or their Privy Council, to make all such laws as may appear necessary for the peace, order, and good government of the Colony.
XII.-The Governor, in our name and on our behalf, may make and execute, under the public seal of the Colony, grants and dispositions of any lands which may be lawfully granted or disposed of by us. Provided that every such grant or disposition be made in conformity either with some law in force in the Colony or with some instructions addressed to the Governor under our sign manual and signet, or through one of our principal Secretaries of State, or with some regulations in force in the Colony.
XIII.-The Governor may constitute and appoint all such judges point Judges and commissioners, justices of the peace, and other necessary officers and ministers in the Colony, as may lawfully be constituted or appointed by us, all of whom, unless otherwise provided by law, shall hold their offices during our pleasure.
other officers.
Grant of pardon
XIV. When any crime has been committed within the Colony, or for which the offender may be tried therein, the Governor may, as he shall see occasion, in our name and our behalf, grant a pardon to any accom- plice in such crime who shall give such information as shall lead to the conviction of the principal offender, or of any one of such offenders, if more than one; and further, may grant to any offender convicted in any And remission Court, or before any judge, or other magistrate within the Colony, a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions, or any remission of the sentence passed on any such offender, or any respite of the execution of such sentence for such period as the Governor thinks fit, and may remit the payment of any fines, penalties. or forfeitures due or accrued to us.
of lines.