Directory_and_Chronicle_1904 — Page 456

CONSTITUTION OF COUNCILS-HONGKONG.

343

Governor is strictly to observe the directions in that behalf given to him by any instructions as aforesaid.

Government.

XVI.-Whenever the office of Governor is vacant, or if the Governor Succession to become incapable, or be absent from the Colony, our Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony, or if there shall be no such officer therein, then such person or persons as we have appointed or may hereafter appoint under our sign manual and signet, and in default of any such appointment, the person lawfully discharging the functions of Colonial Secretary, shall, during our pleasure, administer the government of the Colony, first taking the oaths Proviso. Oathe hereinbefore directed to be taken by the Governor and in the manner herein prescribed; which being done, we do hereby authorize, empower,

of Office.

and command our Lieutenant-Governor, or any other such administrator Powers, &c., of

as aforesaid, to do and execute, during our pleasure, all things that belong Administrator. to the office of Governor and Commander-in-chief, according to the tenor

of these our Letters Patent, and according to our instructions as aforesaid,

and the laws of the Colony.*

others to obey

XVII. - And we do hereby require and command all our officials and Offers and ministers, civil and military, and all other inhabitants of the Colony, and assist Go- to be obedient, aiding and assisting unto the Governor and to any person vernor. for the time being administering the Government of the Colony.

XVIII. In these our Letters Patent the term "the Governor" shall Term "Gover

nor explained. include every person for the time being administering the government of the Colony.

XIX.-And we do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, Power reserved to Her Majesty full power and authority, from time to time, to revoke, alter, or amend to revoke, alter these Letters Patent as to us or them shall seem meet.

ornmend present Letters Patent.

XX. And we do further direct and enjoin that these our Letters Publication of Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places within the Letters Patent. Colony as the Governor shall think fit.

In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Witness ourself at Westminster, the nineteenth day of January,

Patent.

in the Fifty-first year of our Reign.

By Warrant under the Queen's Sign Manual,

MUIR MACKENZIE,

CONSTITUTION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE

COUNCILS

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Executive Council of the Colony consists of such persons as Letters Patent, may be directed by the Queen by any instructions under Her Majesty's 1888, Art. VII.

19th January, sign manual and signet, and they hold their places in the Council during Her Majesty's pleasure.

According to the Queen's recent Instructions the Council is to The Governor's consist of-

The Governor (President).

The Lieutenant-Governor (if any).

• A dormant commission passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, dated 31st January, 1896, appoints the Senior Military Officer in command of the regular forces in the Colony to sdminister the Government when the office of Governor is vacant or the Gornor is incapacitated or absent, and there is no Lieutenant-Governor in the Colony.

e

Instructions, 19th January, 1888, Art. III.