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CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG

Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, constituting the office of Governor aud Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.

February, 1917.

George the Fifth by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Pated 14th

Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India: To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.

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Patent of 19th

Whereas, by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Our Recites Letters United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westmins- January, 1888. ter the Nineteenth day of January 1888, Her Majesty Queen Victoria did c.nstitute the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, as therein decribed, and did provide for the Government thereof:

Courcil of 20th

1899.

And whereas by Orders of Her said Majesty in Her Privy Council Recites Orders in bearing date respectively the Twentieth day October 1898, and the October, 1898 Twenty-seventh day of December 1899, certain territories adjacent to the and 27th Dec., said Colony were, for the term therein referred to, declared to be part and parcel of the Colony in like manner and for all intents and purposes as if they had originally formed part of the Colony :

And whereas We are minded to make other provision in lieu of the above recited Letters Patent of the Nineteenth day of January 1888:

P. Lent of 19th

Now, know ye that We do by these pre-ents revoke the above recited Revokes Letters Letters Patent of the Nineteenth day of January 1888, but without pre- Jannary, 1888. judice to anything lawfully done thereunder; and We do by these Our Letters Patent declare Our Will and Pleasure as follows:

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I. There shall be a Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over Office of Gover- nor constituted, Our Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies (hereinafter called the Colony), and appointments to the said Office shal! be made by Commission under Our Sign Manual and Signet.

powers and

II. We do hereby authorise, empower, and command our said Governor's Governor and Commander-in-Chief (hereinafter called the Governor) to do authorities. and execute all things that belong to his said office, according to the tenour of these our Letters Patent and of any Commission issued to him under Our Sign Manual and Signet, and according to such Instructions as may from time to time be given to him, under Our Sign Manual and Signet, or by Order in Our Privy Council, or by Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and to such laws as are now or shall hereafter be in force in the Colony.

Governor's Com-

III.-Every person appointed to fill the office of Governor shall with Publication of all due solemnity, before entering upon any of the duties of his office, mission. cause the commission appointing him to be Governor to be read and published in the presence of the Chief Justice or other Judge of the Supreme Court, and of such Members of the Executive Council of the