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by death, resignation or any other cause, the administration of Fort of the Island would devolve until such time as Her Majesty should be pleased to make a new appointment, & could also undertake the office of Chief Superintendent, and exercise the duties thereof in the same manner and with the same Powers as any person upon whom the office is permanently conferred.
In order to provide for any inconvenience which might result from a person so acting, as Chief Superintendent, not holding a Commission from the Crown, Her Majesty has been pleased to pass a dormant Commission addressed generally to the officer administering the Fort of Hong Kong for the time being, which I accordingly transmit to you to be retained in the Archives of the Superintendency until wanted, and to be returned.