Directory_and_Chronicle_1889 — Page 991

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

167

IV. And we do by these our Letters Patent declare our will and pleasure as follows:-

mission.

V.-Every person appointed to fill the office of Governor of the Publication of Colony shall with all due solemnity, before entering upon any of the duties Governor's Com of his office, cause the commission appointing him to be Governor to be read and published in the presence of the Chief Justice or other judge of the Supreme Court, and of such members of the Executive Council of the Colony as can conveniently attend; which being done he shall then and there take before them the Oath of Allegiance in the form provided by an Oaths to be taken

by Governor. Act passed in the session holden in the thirty-first and thirty-second years of our reign, intituled "An Act to amend the law relating to Promissory Imperial Act, 31 Oaths;" and likewise the usual oath for the due execution of the office of Vict, cap. Governor, and for the due and impartial administration of justice; which oaths the said Chief Justice o judge, or if they be unavoidably absent, the senior member of the Executive Council then present, is hereby required to administer.

72.

VI.-The Governor shall keep and use the public seal of the Colony Public Seni for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the said public seal.

Executive Coun-

cil.

VII.-The Executive Council of the Colony shall consist of such Constitution of persons as we shall direct by any instructions under our sign manual and l signet, and all such persons shall hold their places in the said Council during our pleasure.

cil.

VIII.-The Legislative Council of the Colony shall consist of such Constitution of persons as we shall direct by any instructions under our sign manual and Legislative Coun- signet, and all such persons shall hold their places in the said Council during our pleasure.

advice and cou-

IX.-The Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Governor, with Legislative Council, may make laws for the peace, order, and good govern- sent of Council, ment of the Colony.

to make Lawa,

Laws.

X.—We do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full Disallowance of power and authority to disallow, through one of our principal Secretaries of State, any such law as aforesaid. Every such disallowance shall take effect from the time when the same shall be promulgated by the Governor in the Colony.

lation reserved.

X1.—We do also reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, our Power of Legis- and their undoubted right, with the advice of our or their Privy Council, to the Crown. to make all such laws as may appear necessary for the peace, order, and good government of the Colony.

XII.—The Governor, in our name and on our behalf, may make and Land grants, execute, under the public seal of the Colony, grants and dispositions of any lands which may be lawfully granted or disposed of by us. Provided that every such grant or disposition be made in conformity either with some law in force in the Colony or with some instructions addressed to the Governor under our sign manual and signet, or through one of our principal Secretaries of State, or with some regulations in force in the Colony.

XIII.-The Governor may constitute and appoint all such judges, Governor em-

pow ered to ap: commissioners, justices of the peace, and other necessary officers and point Judges and ministers in the Colony, as may lawfully be constituted or appointed by other Otticers. us, all of whom, unless otherwise provided by law, shall hold their offices during our pleasure.

XIV. When any crime has been committed within the Colony, or Grant of pardon. for which the offender may be tried therein, the Governor may, as he shall see occasion, in our name and on our behalf, grant a pardon to any accom- plice in such crime who shall give such information as shall lead to the