Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 184

CHARTER OF THE COLONY OF HONGKONG

Letters Patent passed under the Great Seal of the United Kingdo

constituting the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief of th Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies.

Dated 14th

February, 1917. George the Fifth by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Gre Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Se King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India: To all to who these Presents shall come, Greeting.

Recites Letters

Whereas, by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of O Patent of 19th United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westmin January, 1888.

ter the Nineteenth day of January 1888, Her Majesty Queen Victoria di constitute the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and ove the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, as therein decribed, an did provide for the Government thereof:

Recites Orders in Council of 20th

October, 1898, and 27th Dec.,

1899.

Revokes Letters Patent of 19th January, 1888.

Office of Gover-

*

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

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

Now, know ye that We do by these presents revoke the above recit Letters Patent of the Nineteenth day of January, 1888, but without pr judice to anything lawfully done thereunder; and We do by these Ou Letters Patent declare Our Will and Pleasure as follows:

I. There shall be a Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and ove uor constituted, Our Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies (hereinafter called th

Colony), and appointments to the said Office shall be made by Commissi under Our Sign Manual and Signet.

Governor's powers and authorities,

Publication of

Governor's Com. mission.

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

III.-Every person appointed to fill the office of Governor shall wit all due solemnity, before entering upon any of the duties of his office cause the commission appointing him to be Governor to be read an 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