Directory_and_Chronicle_1892 — Page 329

Public Seal.

Constitution of Executive Coun- vil.

Constitution of Legislative Council.

Governor, with

advice and con-

ent of Council,

to make Laws.

Disallowance of Laws.

Power of Legis- lation reserved to the Grown.

Land grants.

Governor em- powered to ap-

other officers.

270

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

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

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

VIII.-The

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

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

X.-We do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full 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.

XI.—We do also reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, our and their undoubted right, with advice of our or their Privy Council, 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 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, point Judges and commissioners, justices of the peace, and other necessary officers and ministers in the Colony, as may lawfully be constituted or appointed by us, all of whom, unless otherwise provided by law, shall hold their offices during our pleasure.

Grant of pardon.

XIV. When any crime has been committed within the Colony, or for which the offender may be tried therein, the Governor may, as he shall see occasion, in our name and our behalf, grant a pardon to any accom- plice in such crime who shall give such information as shall lead to the conviction of the principal offender, or of any one of such offenders, if more than one; and further, may grant to any offender convicted in any Court, or before any judge, or other magistrate within the Colony, a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions, or any remission of the sentence passed on any such offender, or any respite of the execution of And remission such sentence for such period as the Governor thinks fit, and may remit the payment of any fines, penalties, or forfeitures due or accrued to us. Provided always that the Governor shall in no case, except when the offence Political offences has been of a political nature unaccompanied by any other grave crime, make it a condition of any pardon or remission of sentence that the offender ment prohibited. shall be banished from or shall absent himself or be removed from the

Colony.

of fines.

Proviso Banish-

Suspension of officers.

XV.--The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, suspend from the exercise of his office any person holding any office within the Colony, whether appointed by any commission or war ant from us or in our name, or by any other mode of appointment. Every such suspen- sion shall continue and have effect only until our pleasure therein shall be signified to the Governor. In proceeding to any such suspension the