Deputy to Governor. (Amended on 17.11.67.)
Officers and others to
obey and assist
Governor.
Term "Governor" explained.
Power
reserved to His Majesty to revoke, alter, or
8
(4) The holder of the office of Governor or any other person as aforesaid shall not, for the purposes of this Article, be regarded as absent from the Colony or as unable to perform the functions of that office at any time when there is a subsisting appointment of a Deputy under Article XVIIA of these Our Letters.
XVIIA. (1) Whenever the Governor-
(a) has occasion to be absent from the Colony for a period which
he has reason to believe will be of short duration; or
(b) is suffering from any illness which he has reason to believe
will be of short duration; or
(c) considers for any reason that the public interest so requires, he may by instrument under the Public Seal appoint a person to be his Deputy and in that capacity to perform on his behalf such of the func- tions of the office of Governor as may be specified in such instrument.
(2) The powers and authority of the Governor shall not be abridged, altered or in any way affected by the appointment of a Deputy under this Article and a Deputy shall comply with all instructions which the Governor may address to him, but the question whether a Deputy has in any matter complied with such instructions shall not be enquired into by any court.
(3) Any appointment under this Article may be revoked at any time by Us by instructions given by Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State or by the Governor by instrument under the Public Seal, and subject thereto a person appointed under this Article shall hold that appointment for such period as may be specified in the instrument by which he is appointed.
XVIII. And We do hereby require and command all Our officers and ministers, civil and military, and all other the inhabitants of the Colony, to be obedient, aiding and assisting unto the Governor and to any person for the time being administering the Government of the Colony.
XIX. In these Our Letters Patent the term "the Governor" shall include every person for the time being administering the Government of the Colony.
XX. And we do hereby reserve to Ourselves, Our heirs and suc- cessors, full power and authority, from time to time, to revoke, alter, or amend these Our Letters Patent as to Us or them shall seem meet.
amend
present
Letters
Patent.
Publication
of Letters Patent.
XXI. And We do further direct and enjoin that these Our Letters Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places within the Colony as the Governor shall think fit, and shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by the Governor by Proclamation.
Note. Publication in accordance with Article XXI of the Letters Patent was effected by Proclamation No. 3 of 1917 in the Hong Kong Government Gazette of 20th April, 1917.