economic level. There is no income tax and no general customs tariff. For six months of the year the weather is cool and dry with long periods of sunshine daily. Every variety of sport is to be found: safe bathing in ideal conditions, two first-class golf-courses, a drag hunt, polo, shooting, tennis, football, cricket, pony racing, sailing and civilian flying. The scenery, especially along the deeply indented shores of the Colony, is superb.
## Chapter II. GOVERNMENT.The Government of Hong Kong is administered under Letters Patent of the 14th of February, 1917, and Royal Instructions of the same and subsequent dates, by a Governor aided by an Executive Council, composed of six official and three unofficial members, and by a Legislative Council composed of nine official and eight unofficial members. Prior to 1928 the numbers of the Legislative Council members were seven and six respectively. The six official members of the Executive Council are the Senior Military Officer, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Financial Secretary, all of whom are members ex-officio, and the Director of Public Works, appointed by the Governor. The three unofficial members, one of whom is Chinese, are appointed by the Governor. The six official members of the Executive Council are ex-officio members of the Legislative Council; the other three official members of this Council, who are appointed by the Governor, are at the present time the Commissioner of Police, the Harbour Master and the Director of Medical Services. Of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council two are appointed by the Governor on the nomination respectively of the Justices of the Peace and of the Chamber of Commerce; the Governor also appoints the remaining members, three of whom are Chinese. Appointment in the case of unofficial members is for five years for the Executive and four years for the Legislative Council.
The English Common Law forms the basis of the legal system, modified by Hong Kong Ordinances of which an edition revised to 1923 has been published. A further revised edition, of which the first volume has already been printed, was commenced during 1937. The law as to civil procedure was codified by Ordinance No. 3 of 1901. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890 regulates the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Admiralty cases.
The daily administration is carried out by twenty-two Government departments, all officers of which are members of the Civil Service. The central branch of the administration is the Colonial Secretariat. The Secretariat for Chinese Affairs is concerned with questions affecting the Chinese community. Matters of finance and the collection of rates and internal revenue are dealt with by the Treasury Departments. The Imports and Exports Department collects the import and excise duties and controls the opium monopoly. There are seven legal sub-departments, including the Supreme Court and the Magistracies. The Medical Department and the Sanitary Department deal with public health, and the Public Works Department is concerned with roads, buildings, waterworks, piers and analogous matters. The Education Department controls the Government's English and Vernacular Schools and supervises education in the Colony generally. Other departments are the Audit Department, the Post Office, the Harbour Department, the Police Department, the Prisons Department, and the two District Offices.
In 1936 the Sanitary Board was replaced by an Urban Council composed of five official and eight unofficial members. This council has not, however, the full municipal function which is usually understood by its title. All its officers are salaried civil servants and the council itself is subordinate in many respects to the executive.
economic level. There is no income tax and no general customs tariff. For six months of the year the weather is cool and dry with long periods of sunshine daily. Every variety of sport is to be found: safe bathing in ideal conditions, two first- class golf-courses, a drag hunt, polo, shooting, tennis, football, cricket, pony racing, sailing and civilian flying. The scenery, especially along the deeply indented shores of the Colony, is superb.
Chapter II.
GOVERNMENT.
The Government of Hong Kong is administered under Letters Patent of the 14th of February, 1917, and Royal Instructions of the same and subsequent dates, by a Governor aided by an Executive Council, composed of six official and three unofficial members, and by a Legislative Council composed of nine official and eight unofficial members. Prior to 1928 the numbers of the Legislative Council members were seven and six respectively. The six official members of the Executive Council are the Senior Military Officer, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney General, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, the Financial Secretary, all of whom are members ex-officio, and the Director of Public Works, appointed by the Governor.. The three unofficial members, one of whom is Chinese, are appointed by the Governor. The six official members of the Executive Council are ex-officio members of the Legislative Council; the other three official members of this Council, who are appointed by the Governor, are at the present time the Commissioner of Police, the Harbour Master and the Director of Medical Services. Of the unofficial members of the Legislative Council two are appointed by the Governor on the nomination respectively of the Justices of the Peace and of the Chamber of Commerce; the Governor also appoints the remaining members three of whom are Chinese. Appointment in the case of unofficial members is for five years for the Executive and four years for the Legislative Council.
The English Common Law forms the basis of the legal system, modified by Hong Kong Ordinances of which an edition revised to 1923 has been published. A further revised edition, of which the first volume has already been printed, was commenced during 1937. The law as to civil procedure was codified by Ordinance No. 3 of 1901. The Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890 regulates the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in Admiralty cases.
The daily administration is carried out by twenty-two Government departments, all officers of which are members of the Civil Service. The central branch of the administration is the Colonial Secretariat. The Secretariat for Chinese Affairs is concerned with questions affecting the Chinese community. Matters of finance and the collection of rates and internal revenue are dealt with by the Treasury Departments. The Imports and Exports Department collects the import and excise duties and controls the opium monopoly. There are seven legal sub-departments, including the Supreme Court and the Magistracies. The Medical Department and the Sanitary Department deal with public health, and the Public Works Department is concerned with roads, buildings, waterworks, piers and analogous matters. The Education Department controls the Government's English and Vernacular Schools and supervises education in the Colony generally. Other departments are the Audit Department, the Post Office, the Harbour Department, the Police Department, the Prisons Department, and the two District Offices.
In 1936 the Sanitary Board was replaced by an Urban Council composed of five official and eight unofficial members. This council has not, however, the full municipal function which is usually understood by its title. All its officers are salaried civil servants and the council itself is subordinate in many respects to the executive
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