Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 323

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG.

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

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

during our pleasure.

cil.

Council,

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

sent of Council, to make Laws.

Disallowance

X. We do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, full power and authority to disallow, through one of our principal Secretaries Laws. of State, any such law as aforesaid. Every such aisallowance 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 Power of Legis- and their undoubted right, with advice of our or their Privy Council, tation reserved

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 instruc ions 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- commissioners, justices of the peace, and other necessary officers and powered to ap-

point Judges and ministers in the Colony, as may lawfully be constituted or appointed by other officers. us, all of whom, unless otherwise provided by law, shall hold their offices during ou 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 shali see occasion, in our name and our behalf, grant a pardon to any accom- plice in such crime who shall give such niormation as shail lead to the conviction of the principal offender, or of any one of such offenders, if more than one; and furtuer, may grant to any offender con icted in any Court, or before any judge, or other magistrate with 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 such sentence for such period as the Governor thinks fit, and may remit and remission the payment of any fines, penalties, or torteitures due or accrued to us. Provideu always that the Governor shali in no case, exce, t when the offence has been of a political nature unaccompanied by any other grave crime, Political offences make it a condition of any pardon or remission of sentence that the offender shall be banished from or shall absent himseif or be removed from the Proviso Ranish

ment probibited. Colony.

of fines.

XV.--The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, suspension of suspend from the exercise of his office any person holding any office within officers. the Colony, whether appointed by any commission or warrant 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