No 4., of 184–3.
Inclosure. Not in Despatch
A
of the Ratified Treaties. Aberdeen, reparting the Exchange
Despatch No 69 to the Earl of
30th June 1863.
87
66
1049 Hongtang
The Friend of China & Hong Kong Gazette. THE
GOVERNMENT EXTRAORDINARY.
VICTORIA, HONG-KONG, FRIDAY, JUNE 30th, 1843.
PROCLAMATION,
The TREATY of PEACE, ratified under the Signs Manual, and Seals of the respective Sovereigns, between Her Majesty, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Ireland, &c. &c. and His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of China, having been this day formally exchanged, the annexed: Royal Charter and Commission, under the Great Seal of State, are hereby Proclaimed and published for general information, obedience, and guidance:
HIS EXCELLENCY, SIR HENRY POTTINGER, BART., G.C.B., &c. &c., has this day taken the Oaths of Office, and assumed charge of the Government of the Colony of Hong-Kong, and its Dependencies, as fully as if these Presents had not been made.
And, whereas, it is expedient, that an Executive Council should be appointed to advise and assist the Governor of our said Colony of Hong-Kong, for the time being, in the administration of the Government thereof We do therefore, by those, our Letters Patent, authorizing the Governor of said Colony, for the time being, to summon as an Executive Council, such Persons as may from time to time be named or designated by Us, by any Instructions under Our Signet and Sign Manual, addressed to him in that behalf: And We do hereby authorize and empower the Governor of Our said Colony of Hong-Kong, for the time being, to keep and use the Public Seal appointed for the Scaling of all things whatsoever that shall pass the Seal of our said Colony: And we do hereby give and grant to the Governor of our said Colony of Hong-Kong, for the time being, full power and authority in our name, and on our behalf, but subject, nevertheless, to such provisions as may be, in that respect contained in any instructions which may from time to time be addressed to him by Us, for that purpose, to make and execute such Laws and Ordinances as may from time to time be required for the Peace, Order, and good Government of the said Colony of Hong-Kong.
And unto annexed, or any respite of the execution of the sentence of any such offender, for such period as to such Governor may seem fit: And we do hereby give and grant unto the Governor of our said Colony of Hong-Kong, for the time being, full power and authority, upon sufficient cause to his appearing, to suspend from the exercise of his Office, within our said Colony, any person exercising any office or place, under virtue of any Commission or Warrant granted, or which may be granted by us, or in our name, or under our authority to disallow any such Ordinances in the whole or in part, and to make and establish from time to time, with the advice and consent of Parliament, or with the advice of our or their Privy Council, all such Laws as may to Us, or them, appear necessary, for the Peace, Order, and good Government of our said Colony of Hong-Kong.
And, whereas, it is expedient, that the Island and its Dependencies should be designated and known by a specific name, We do hereby declare our pleasure to be, that the said Island and its Dependencies shall be known and designated as "The Colony of Hong-Kong" and His Excellency the Governor, is further pleased to direct, that the present City, on the North side of the Island, shall be distinguished by Her Majesty's Name, and that all Public Communications, Archives, &c, &c., shall be henceforward, dated "VICTORIA"
VICTORIA, by the GRACE of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, To all to whom these Presents shall come-GREETING: KNOW YE that We, of our Special Grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have thought fit to erect and do hereby erect our Island of Hong-Kong and its Dependencies, situate between twenty-two degrees, nine minutes, and twenty-two degrees twenty-one minutes North Latitude, and the one hundred and fourteenth degree, eighteen minutes East Longitude from the Meridian of Greenwich, into a Colony, and the said Island and its Dependencies is hereby erected into a separate Colony accordingly, to be known and designated as "the Colony of Hong-Kong"
AND WE DO hereby further grant, appoint, and ordain, that the Governor, for the time being, of the said Colony, and such other Persons, as are, hereinafter designated, shall constitute, and be a Legislative Council for the said Colony; And We do hereby direct and appoint, that in addition to the said Governor, the said Legislative Council shall be composed of such Public Officers within the said Colony, or of such other Persons within the same, as shall from time to time, be named or designated for that purpose, by Us, by any Instruction or Instructions, or Warrant, or Warrants, to the said Governor, for the time being, under Our Signet and Sign Manual, and with the advice of Our Privy Councillors, shall hold their places in the said Council, at our pleasure: And We do hereby give, and grant unto the Governor of our said Colony of Hong-Kong, for the time being, full power and authority as he shall see occasion, in our name, and on our behalf, to grant to any offender convicted of any crime, in any Court, or before any Judge, Justice or Magistrate within our said Colony, a free and unconditional pardon, or a pardon subject to such conditions, as by any Law or Ordinance hereafter to be in force in our said Colony, may be required.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
HENRY POTTINGER.
Dated at the Government-House, at Victoria, this 26th day of June, 1843.
WITNESS Ourself, at Westminster, the fifth day of April, in the sixth year of our Reign.
BY THE QUEEN HERSELF.
EDMUNDS.
RICHARD WODSNAM.