b.b. A.
1. Gov.685
25.7.38.
Reports on advisability of powers to be taken to enable Goom to otht by
to otht by warrant a
when Gernr is comporarily absent.
17: Kennedy.
deputy
2
May
wc
Lave your
adu
-
Uni pleam.
J. w.n. Coches
S.9.3♪
The Letters Patent of most Colonies contain
a clause which provides that in the event of the
Governor having occasion to be absent from the seat
of Government or in the exercise of duties conferred
1
or imposed upon him in his capacity as Governor to
Į visit any neighbouring territories, he may appoint a
deputy. Such a clause is not included in the
Hong Kong Letters Patent.
There was no such clause
in the original charter of 1843 or in the Letters
Patent of 1888 and when these were revised in 1917
the question of including the clause was apparently
not considered. In the absence of any such
provision it would not, I think, be proper for the
Governor to issue a Warrant conferring any of his
powers on a deputy. We could amend the Letters
Patent by inserting such a clause on the lines of
Clause 17 of the Windward Islands Letters Patent, a
copy of which is attached.
It should be noted that Clause 36 of the
Hong Kong Royal Instructions says that the Governor
shall not upon any pretence whatever quit the Colony
without first having obtained leave from His Majesty
unde