CO129-055 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [3-5] — Page 46

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

The Police Rate in Hongkong determined, not by the Legislative, but by the Executive Council.

8. I do not imagine the Charter of the Colony, to which the Colonial Secretary refers in support of the present system, to be an irrepealable and immutable Law - but a Law which the Sovereign Lawgiver may modify in the interest of her subjects. Whatever may have been the purpose of the Charter, under existing colonial usages it appears to me the functions of the Legislative and the Executive Councils are in practice not unfrequently confused and interchanged, and that much of the action of the Executive

might with public advantage be placed under the supervision of the Legislative Council, on the understanding always that the Legislative Council should stand on a broader basis, and that its aptitude for useful legislation should be increased by the introduction of a certain number of popularly elected Members.

I do not know, in what respect the experiment made by Sir George Bonham six years ago failed. I am not acquainted with the prediction which anticipated that failure. My experience is, as President of the Legislative Council (of which the Colonial Secretary

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The Police Rate in Hongkong determined, not by the Legislative, but by the Executive Council. 8. I do not imagine the Charter of the Colony, to which the Colonial Secretary refers in support of the present system, to be an irrepealable and immutable Law - but a Law which the Sovereign Lawgiver may modify in the interest of her subjects. Whatever may have been the purpose of the Charter, under existing colonial usages it appears to me the functions of the Legislative and the Executive Councils are in practice not unfrequently confused and interchanged, and that much of the action of the Executive might with public advantage be placed under the supervision of the Legislative Council, on the understanding always that the Legislative Council should stand on a broader basis, and that its aptitude for useful legislation should be increased by the introduction of a certain number of popularly elected Members. 9. I do not know, in what respect the experiment made by Sir George Bonham six years ago failed. I am not acquainted with the prediction which anticipated that failure. My experience is, as President of the Legislative Council (of which the Colonial Secretary

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10. is + The Police Rate in Honighing determined, not by the Legislative, but by the Exxcentive Commeil. 8. I do not imagine the Charter of the belong, to which the Colonial Secretary refers in support of the prevent system, to be an incrreable and immutable Low - but a Low solrich the Invereign Lovegiver, many modify in the interest of her subjects. Whatever may have been the purpose the Chorter, under existing colmat usages it appears to me the functions the Legislative and the Excentive "Commsils are in practice not m - pequently annfused and Handeds, and that much of the action of the Executione SA attusin muý 43 Might with public advantage be place under the supervision of the Legislative Comeil, _ on the understanding always that the Legislation Camoil should stand on a broader basis, and that its aptitude for useful legislation should be increased by the interduction. of a certain number of popularly elected Members. be more here fol 9. I do not hunr, in what respect •on mete ispermment made by die George_ attention's Bohom Six years ago The L. Crunc Kenno if ne before be said to the brave entirely failed" _mor and Perbame Qs Hel 1. aequanited with the prediction which anticiported that focilure. My experience is, or the Prevident of the Legislative Cormeil _ (of soluck the Colonial Secretary

2026-05-18 01:21:38 · Baseline

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10.

is +

The Police Rate in Honighing determined, not by the Legislative, but by the Exxcentive Commeil. 8. I do not imagine the Charter of the belong, to which the Colonial Secretary refers in support of the prevent system, to be an incrreable and immutable Low - but a Low

solrich the Invereign Lovegiver, many modify in the interest of her subjects. Whatever may have been the purpose the Chorter, under existing colmat usages it appears to me the functions the Legislative and the Excentive "Commsils are in practice not m - pequently annfused and Handeds, and that much of the action of the Executione

attusin muý

Might with public advantage be place under the supervision of the Legislative Comeil, _ on the understanding always that the Legislation Camoil should stand on a broader basis, and that its aptitude for useful legislation should be increased by the interduction. of a certain number of popularly elected Members.

be more here fol

I do not hunr, in what respect

•on mete ispermment made by die George_ attention's Bohom Six years ago

The L. Crunc

Kenno if ne

before

be said

to the brave entirely failed" _mor and

Perbame Qs Hel

1. aequanited with the prediction which anticiported that focilure. My experience is, or the Prevident of the Legislative Cormeil _ (of soluck the Colonial Secretary

CO129-055 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [3-5] — Page 46

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