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Governor and Legislative

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG

Council, or through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, and the Governor shall have signified such assent by message to the Legislative Council or by proclamation: Provided that no such message shall be issued after two years from the day on which the Bill was presented to the Governor for his assent.

XII.—In the making of any laws the Governor and the Legislative- Council to obser- Council shall conform to and observe all rules, regulations, and directions ve Instructions. in that behalf contained in any Instructions under Our Sign Manual and

Signet.

Land grants.

Governor em-

XIII. The Governor, in Our name and on Our behalf, may make and 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 Instructions 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.

XIV. The Governor may constitute and appoint all such Judges powered to and Commissioners, Justices of the Peace, and other necessary Officers and point Judges other officers. Ministers in the Colony, as may lawfully be constituted or appointed by Us, all of whom, unless otherwise provided by law, shall hold their offices during Our pleasure.

Grant of pardon,

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XV. When any crime or offence has been committed within the Colony, or for which the offender may be tried therein, the Governor may, as he shall see occasion, in Our name and on Our behalf, grant a pardon to any accomplice in such crime or offence who shall give such information as shall lead to the conviction of the principal offender, or of any one of such offenders, if more than one; and further, may grant to any offender convicted of any crime or offence in any Court, or before any Judge or other Magistrate within the Colony, a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions, or any remission of the sentence passed on such offender or any respite of the execution of such sentence for such period as the Governor thinks fit, and may remit any fines, penalties, or forfeitures due or accrued to Us. Provided always that the Governor shall in no case, Proviso. Banish. except when the offence has been of a political nature unaccompanied by ment prohibited. any other grave crime, make it a condition of any pardon or remission of Exception. sentence that the offender shall be banished from or shall absent himself Political offences

or be removed from the Colony.

Remission of fines.

Dismissal and Suspension of officers.

XVI. The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, dismiss any public officer not appointed by virtue of a Warrant from Us, whose pensionable emoluments do not 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, provided that in every such case the grounds of intended dismissal are definitely stated in writing and communicated to the officer in order that he may have full opportunity of exculpating himself, and that the matter is investigated by the Governor with the aid of the head for the time be- ing of the department in which the officer is serving

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The Governor may, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, also suspend from the exercise of his office any person holding any office in the Colony whether appointed by virtue of any Commission or Warrant from Us, or in Our name, or by any other mode of appointment. Such suspen- sion shall continue and have effect only until Our pleasure therein shall be signified to the Governor. If the suspension is confirmed by one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, the Governor shall forthwith cause