Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 430

374

Private Bills.

Ordinances, &c.,'

duly authentica- ted.

CONSTITUTION OF COUNCILS-HONGKONG

.

suspending the operation of such Bill until the signification of Our pleasure thereupon, or unless the Governor shall have satisfied himself that an urgent necessity exists requiring that such Bill be brought into immediate operation, in which case he is authorised to assent in Our name to such Bill, unless the same shall be repugnant to the law of England, or inconsistent with any obligations imposed on Us by treaty. But he is to transmit to Us, by the earliest opportunity the Bill so assented to together with his reasons for assenting thereto.

XXVII.-Every Bill intended to affect or benefit some particular person, association or corporate body shall contain a section saving the rights of Us, Our heirs and successors, all bodies politic and corporate, and all others except such as are mentioned in the Bill and those claiming by, from, and under them. No such Bill, not being a Government measure, shall be introduced into the Legislative Council until due notice has been given by not less than two successive publications of the Bill in the Hongkong Government Gazette, and in such other manner as may be required by the Standing Rules and Orders for the time being in force; and the Governor shall not assent thereto in Our name until it has been so published. A certificate under the hand of the Governor shall be transmitted to Us with the Bill signifying that such publication has been made.

XXVIII.—When any Ordinance shall have been passed or when any to be sent home Bill shall have been reserved for the signification of Our pleasure, the Governor shall transmit to Us, through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, for Our final approval, disallowance or other direction thereupon, a full and exact copy in duplicate of the same, and of the marginal summary thereof, duly authenticated under the Public Seal of the Colony, and by his own signature. Such copy shall be accompanied by such explanatory observations as may be required to exhibit the reasons and occasion for passing such Ordinance or Bill.

Collection of

published every

XXIX. At the earliest practicable period at the commencement of Ordinances to be each year, the Governor shall cause a complete collection to be published, for general information, of all Ordinances enacted during the preceding year.

year.

eedings of Legis-

Minutes of proc- XXX.-Minutes shall be regularly kept of the proceedings of the lative Council to Legislative Council, and at each ureeting of the said Council, the Minutes be kept, andsent of the last preceding meeting shall be confirmed, or amended, as the case

may require, before proceeding to the despatch of any other business.

home after every

meeting

Surveys and

reservations to be

osed of.

The Governor shall transmit to Us, through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, as soon as possible after every meeting a full and exact copy of the Minutes of the said Council.

XXXI.—Before disposing of any vacant or waste land to Us belong- made before was- ing the Governor shall cause the same to be surveyed, and such reservations te lands are disp- to be made ther out as he may think necessary for roads or other public Governor not to purposes. The Governor shall not, directly or indirectly, purchase for purchase lands. himself any of such lands without Our special permission given through

one of Our Principal Secretaries of State.

Appointments to be provisional and during pleasure.

XXXII.—All Commissions to be granted by the Governor to any per- son or persons for exercising any office or employment shall, unless other- wise provided by law, be granted during pleasure only; and whenever the Governor shall appoint to any vacant office or employment, of which the initial emoluments exceed one thousand dollars or one hundred pounds sterling a year, according as the said emoluments are fixed with reference to dollars or to pounds sterling, as the case may be, any person not by Us specially directed to be appointed thereto, he shall, at the same time, ex- pressly apprise such person that such appointment is to be considered only as temporary and provisional until Our allowance or disallowance thereof be signified.