Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 929

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CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

V. And we do hereby authorize and empower the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time bing, to k ep and use the public seal appointed for the sealing of all things whatsoever that shall pass the seal of our said Colony.

VI.-And we do hereby give and grant to the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being full power and authority, in our name and on our behalf, but subject nevertheless to such provisions as may be in that respect contained in any instructions which may from time to time be addressed to him by us for that purpose, to make and execute in our name, and on our behalf, under the public seal of our said Colony, grants of land to us belonging, within the same, to private persons, for their own use and benefit, or to any persons, bodies politic or corporate, in trust for the public uses of our subj cts there resident, or of any of tbem.

VII-And we do hereby authorize and empower the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, to constitute and appoint judges, and, in cases requisite, commissioners of oyer and terminer, justices of the peace, and other necessary officers and ministers in our said Colony, for the due and impartial administration of justice, and for putting the laws into execution, and to administer, or cause to be administered, unto them such oath or oaths as are usually given for the due execution and performance of offices and places, and for the clearing of truth in judicial matters.

VIII. And we do hereby give and grant unto the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, full power and authority, as he shall see occasion, in our name, and on our behalf, to remit any fines, penalties, or forfeitures which may accrue, or become payable to us, provided the same do not exceed the sum of fifty pounds sterling in any one case, and to respite and suspend the payment of any such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, excceding the said sum of fifty pounds, until our pleasure thereon shall be made known and signified to such Governor.

IX.-And we do hereby give and grant unto the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, full power and authority, as he shall see occasion, in our name, and on our behalf, to grant to any offender convicted of any crime, in any Court, or before any judge, justice, or magistrate within our said Colony, a free and unconditional pardon, or a pardon subject to such conditions as by any Law or Ordinance bereafter to be in force in our said Colony may be thereunto annexed, or any respite of the execution of the sentence of any such offender, för such period as to such Governor may seem fit.

X.-And we do hereby give and grant unto the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, full power and authority, upon sufficient cause to bim appearing, to suspend from the exercise of his office, within our said Colony, any person exercising any office or place, under or by virtue of any commission or warrant grantea

or which may be granted, by us, or in our name, or unler our authority, which uspension shall continue and have effect only until our pleasure therein shall be made known and signified to such Governor: And we do hereby strictly require and enjoin the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, in proceeding to any such suspension, to observe the directions in that behalf given to him by our instructions, under our signet and sign manual, accompanying his commission of appointment as Governor of the said Colony.

XI. And in the event of the death or absence out of our said Colony of Hongkong of such person as may be commissioned and appointed by us to be the Governor thereof, we do hereby provide and declare our pleasure to be, that all and every the powers and authorities herein granted to the Governor of our said Colony of Hongkong for the time being, shall be, and the same are, hereby vested in such person as may be appointed by us, by warrant under our signet and sign manual, to be the Lieutenant-Governor of our said Colony; or in the event of there being no person upon the place commissioned and appointed by us to be Lieutenant-Governor there of then our pleasure is, and we do hereby provide and declare, that in any such contingency, all the powers and authorities herein granted to the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor of our said Colony shall be and the same are hereby granted