CO129-576-7 Administration of government amendments to Letters Patent 19-1-1939 - 17-7-1939 — Page 21

HONG KONG

223

GEORGE THE SIXTH, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India:

To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting!

#4

Letters

WHEREAS by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal, Recites bearing date at Westminster the Fourteenth day of February, Patent of 1917 (hereinafter referred to as the Letters Patent of 1917 "), 14th as amended by Letters Patent bearing date the Thirtieth day February, of April, 1938, the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief 1917 and in and over Our Colony of Hong Kong and its Dependencies 30th April, is constituted:

1938.

AND WHEREAS We are minded to amend the Letters Patent of 1917 in the manner following:

Now KNOW YE that We do hereby declare Our will and pleasure as follows:

I. Article XVII of the Letters Patent of 1917 is hereby Revokes revoked, and the following Articles are substituted therefor:

and replaces Article

XVII of

Letters Patent of

1917.

XVII. Whenever the office of Governor is vacant, "Succession or the Governor is absent from the Colony, or is from to Govern- any cause prevented from, or incapable of, acting in the ment." duties of his office, then such person as may be appointed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, or, if there shall be no such person or the person so appointed shall be absent from the Colony or prevented from, or incapable of, acting as aforesaid, then the person lawfully discharging the functions of Colonial Secretary, or if there shall be no person discharging such functions, then the senior member of the Executive Council actually present in the Colony, shall, during Our pleasure administer the Govern- ment of the Colony, first taking the Oaths hereinbefore directed to be taken by the Governor and in the manner herein prescribed; which being done, We do hereby authorise, empower, and command such person, to do and execute, during Our pleasure, all things that belong to the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief, as pro- vided in these Our Letters Patent:

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