THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, APRIL 20, 1917.
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convicted of any crime or offence in any 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 such offender, or any respite of the execution of such sentence for such period as the Governor thinks fit, and may remit any fines, penalties, or forfeitures due Remission of fines. or accrued to Us. Provided always that the Governor shall in no case, except where the offence has been of a political nature unaccompanied by Proviso. Banish- any other grave crime, make it a condition of any pardon or remission of ment prohibited. sentence that the offender shall be banished from or shall absent himself Exception. or be removed from the Colony.
Political offences.
suspension of
XVI. The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, Dismissal and dismiss any public officer not appointed by virtue of a Warrant from Us, pers. whose pensionable emoluments do not exceed one thousand dollars or one hundred pounds sterling a year, according as the said emoluments are fixed with reference to dollars or to pounds sterling as the case may be, provided that in every such case the grounds of intended dismissal are definitely stated in writing and communicated to the officer in order that he may have full opportunity of exculpating himself, and that the matter is investigated by the Governor with the aid of the head for the time being of the department in which the officer is serving.
The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, also sus- pend from the exercise of his office any person holding any office in the Colony whether appointed by virtue of any Commission or Warrant from Us, or in Our name, or by any other mode of appointment. Such suspen- sion shall continue and have effect only until Our pleasure therein shall be signified to the Governor. If the suspension is confirmed by one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, the Governor shall forthwith cause the officer to be so informed, and thereupon his office shall become vacant. In proceeding to any such suspension, the Governor is strictly to observe the directions in that behalf given to him by Our Instructions as aforesaid.
Government.
Office.
XVII. Whenever the office of Governor is vacant, or if the Governor Succession to become incapable, or be absent from the Colony, Our Lieutenant Governor' of the Colony, or if there shall be no such Officer therein, then such person or persons as may be appointed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, and in default of any such appointment, the person lawfully discharging the functions of Colonial Secretary shall during Our pleasure administer the Government of the Colony, first taking the Oaths hereinbefore directed Proviso. Oaths of to be taken by the Governor and in the manner herein prescribed; which being done, We do hereby authorise, empower, and command Our Lieu- Powers, &c., of tenant Governor, or any other such Administrator as aforesaid, to do and Administrator. execute, during Our pleasure, all things that belong to the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief, according to the tenour of these Our Letters Patent, and according to Our Instructions as aforesaid, and the laws of the Colony.
Governor.
XVIII. And We do hereby require and command all Our officers Officers and others and ministers, civil and military, and all other the inhabitants of the to obey and assist Colony, to be obedient, aiding and assisting unto the Governor and to any person for the time being administering the Government of the Colony.
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XIX. In these Our Letters Patent the term 'the Governor," shall Term "Governor" include every person for the time being administering the Government of explained. the Colony.
XX. And We do hereby reserve to Ourselves, Our heirs and successors, Power reserved to full power and authority, from time to time, to revoke, alter, or amend His Majesty to these Our Letters Patent as to Us or them shall seem meet.
revoke, alter, or amend present Letters Patent.
XXI. And We do further direct and enjoin that these Our Letters Publication of Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places within the Letters Patent.