Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 499

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CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG

Political offences. Provided always that the Governor shall in no case, except when the offence 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 Proviso. Banish shall be banished from or shall absent himself or be removed from the ment prohibited. Colony.

Suspension of officers.

Succession to Government.

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

XVI. Whenever the office of Governor is vacant, or if the Governor 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 Proviso. Oath pleasure, administer the government of the Colony, first taking the oaths hereinbefore directed to be taken by the Governor and in the manner herein prescribed; which being done, we do hereby authorize, empower, Powers, &c., of and command our Lieutenant-Governor, or any other such administrator as aforesaid, to do and execute, during our pleasure, all things that belong to the office of Governor an 1 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.*

of Office.

Administrator.

Officers and others to obey and assist Go-

vernor.

Term "Gover-

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

XVIII. In these our Letters Patent the term "the Governor" shall nor" explained. include every person for the time being administering the government of

the Colony.

Power reserved

XIX. And we do hereby reserve to ourselves, our heirs and successors, to Her Majesty full power and authority, from time to time, to revoke, alter, or amend

to revoke, alter

oramen present these Letters Patent as to us or them shall scem meet.

Letters Patent.

Publication of

XX. And we do further direct and enjoin that these our Letters Letters Patent. Patent shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places within the

Colony as the Governor shall think fit.

In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent. Witness ourself at Westminster, the nineteenth day of January in the Fifty-first year of our Reign.

By Warrant under the Queen's Sign Manual,

MUIR MACKENZIE.

* A dormant commission passed under the Royal Sign Manual and Signet, dated 31st January, 1996, appoints the Senior Military Officer in command of the regular forces in the Colony to administer the Government when the office of Governor is vacant or the Governor is incapacitated or absent, and there is no Lieutenant-Governor in the Colony.