:

MINUTES.

MINUTES NOT TO BE WRITTEN

ON THIS SIDE.

416

a fiat should be reserved for cases

where the action is frivolous or

vexatious, or in some way an abuse

of the process of the Court.

Therefore I would tell the Governor

as above, and advise him to grant

his fiat, but to give notice that the

Crown will take the steps which are

locally equivalent to a demurrer and

which are to be foundin Sections 17% et

sec of the Code.

Hesplex

I agree.

I should like to add the

Er the

I cannot conceive the possi-

bility of success for any

argument that an Ordinance is

invalid owing to the failure of

the Governor to observe the

Royal Instructions.

U

Section 4 of the Colonial

Laws Validity Act, 1865, express

ly provides that "No Colonial

Law passed with the concurrence

of or assented to by the

Governor of any Colony, or to be

hereafter so passed or assented

to, shall be or be deemed to

have been void or inoperative

by reason only of any instruc-

tions with reference to such

law or the subject thereof

3

which may have been given to such

Governor by or on behalf of Her

Majesty, by any instrument other

than Letters Patent or instrument

authorising such Governor to concur

in passing or to assent to laws

for the peace, order and good

government of such Colony, even

though such instructions may be

referred to in such Letters Patent

or last mentioned instrument".

The Attorney-General's

attention should be directed to

this enactment.

There can also be no

doubt that under the combined

provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of

the Order in Council of 20th of

October, 1898 (as to the New Territories) and section 3 of the

Hong Kong Interpretation Ordinance 1911 the Crown Lands Resumption Ordinance, 1900, applies to the New

Territories.

The only question

remaining for argument seems to be whether the 1910 Ordinance and the

1900 Ordinance as applied to the

New Territories are invalid legislation for the New Territories

by reason of the Convention.

KI.R

8/11/24

At orice

wind ch

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