Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 196

Recites Ad-

tions of 28th

166

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

And whereas by certain additional instructions under our sign ditional Instruc- manual and signet, bearing date 28th day of January, 1878, we did substitute a new Article for the XIIIth Article of our said instructions of the 9th day of April, 1877, respecting the precedence of the members of our Executive Council of the Colony.

January, 1878.

Bubstitutes new Article for

And whereas we are minded to make further provision for our said. Executive and Legislative Councils; now, we do by these our instructions under our sign manual and signet direct and enjoin and declare our will and pleasure as follows:-

I.-The following Article shall be substituted for the aforesaid Article XII. of XIIth Article of our said instructions of 9th April, 1877, and may be printed instead thereof in any copy hereafter to be made of our said instructions, viz. :~

InstructionE.

Constitution of Legislative Council.

"XII. Our said Legislative Council shall consist of the persons for

XII.-Our the time lawfully discharging the functions of Chief Justice, Colonial Secretary, and Attorney-General of our said Colony, and of such other persons holding offices in the Colony, and not exceeding three in number at any one time, as we may from time to time appoint by any instructions or warrants under our sign manual and signet, and all such persons shall be styled official members of our said Legislative Council; and further of Unmetal Mom Such persons, not exceeding five in number at any one time, as are

Official Mem. bers.

bere.

Unofficial Mem. bera to vacate their sears at

immediately before the receipt of these our instructions in the Colony unofficial members of our said Council, or as we may from time to time appoint by the like instructions or warrants to be unofficial members thereof.

"Every unofficial member of our said Legislative Council shall vacate his seat at the end of six years from the date of the instrument by which from the date of he is appointed.

end of six years

the Instrument of appointment. Provisional ap- pointments.

Provisional ap- pointments to be reported.

Additional Ins- tractions of 28th

revoked.

"If any member of our said Council now holding one of the three offices mentioned in this Article shall die, or become incapable, or be suspended or removed from his seat in the Council, or be absent from the colony, or if he shall, with permission of the Governor, resign his seat by writing under his hand, the Governor may, by an instrument under the public seal of the colony, appoint in his place a fit person to be provisionally a member of the said Council.

"Such person shall forthwith cease to be a member if his appoint- ment is disallowed by us, or if the member in whose place he was ap- pointed shall return to the colony, or shall be released from suspension, or shall be declared by the Governor capable of again discharging his functions in the said Council.

"The Governor shall, without delay, report to us, for our confirmation or disallowance, through one of our principal Secretaries of State, every provisional appointment of any person as an official or unofficial member of our said Council. Every such person shall hold his seat during our pleasure, and the Governor may by any instrument under the public seal of the colony revoke any such appointment.'

**

II. We do hereby revoke our additional instructions of the 28th January, 1878, day of January, 1878; and the following Article shall be substituted for the aforesaid XIIIth Article of our instructions of the 9th day of April, 1877, and may be printed instead thereof in any copy hereafter to be made of our said instructions, viz :—

Substitutes now Article for Article XIII, of Instructions of 9th April 1877. Precedence of Members of the Executive

XIII.-The members of our Executive Council whose offices are mentioned in the IIIrd Article of these instructions shall take precedence of the other members, and shall, between themselves, take precedence according to the order in which their respective offices are mentioned in