SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 413
OF 29045UZ JANUARY 88
SECRET
HRA 3731,
- 1 FEB 1988
016656
MDLIAN 5904
COPY
2ND MIPT: AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS
PATENT:
BEGINS:
1 1. (1) THESE OUR LETTERS MAY BE CITED AS THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1988 AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS ONE WITH THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1917 AS AMENDED (HEREINAFTER CALLED 'THE PRINCIPAL
LETTERS PATENT'').
(2) THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1917 TO 1986 AND THESE OUR LETTERS MAY BE CITED TOGETHER AS THE HONG KONG LETTERS PATENT 1917 TO 1988.
(3) THESE OUR LETTERS SHALL BE PUBLISHED IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND SHALL COME INTO OPERATION UPON THE DATE
OF SUCH PUBLICATION.
(4) SUBJECT TO ANY INSTRUCTIONS ADDRESSED TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG UNDER OUR SIGN MANUAL AND SIGNET OR THROUGH ONE OF OUR PRINCIPLA SECRETARIES OF STATE, LAWS MAY BE MADE FOR GIVING EFFECT TO THESE OUR LETTERS AND FOR THE HOLDING OF ELECTIONS IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH BUT, UNTIL THE APPOINTED DAY, NOTHING IN THESE OUR LETTERS OR THE SAID INSTRUCTIONS OR LAWS SHALL AFFECT THE MEMBER- SHIP OR POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG AS CONSTITUTED UNDER THE PRINCIPAL LETTERS PATEN IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE DATE OF COMING INTO OPERATION OF THESE OUR LETTERS.
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(5) IN THESE OUR LETTERS ''THE APPOINTED DAY MEANS THE DAY COR, IF MORE THAN ONE, THE FIRST DAY) APPOINTED UNDER A LAW IN FORCE IN THE COLONY FOR THE HOLDING OF AN ELECTION IN 1988
FOR ALL THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG.
2.
(A)
ARTICLE VI(1) OF THE PRINCIPAL LETTERS PATENT IS AMENDED
IN SUB-PARAGRAPH (D) BY DELETING 'TWENTY-TWO'' SUBSTITUTING 'TWENTY' ':
AND
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