TNAG-2219-FCO40-3187-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-and-R-1991 — Page 66

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

15-MA-1991 15:40

DIRECTOR OF ADM.

858 877 0803

P.55

53

were two powers

However in existence.

it was evicently common ground between the parties at this staye that there was only one power to appoint magistrates, namely the article XIV power, which was regulated by section 5 of the mayistrates Ordinance, out Mr. Keane tolc this court that he

that there had submitted to the judge that if it were held

nave to we celegateu. two powers they would poth

were

Benef

eneral

I venture

think

that

11

neo

the

Attumey —

the quaye rad

such as leading cases f the citation of

de Keyser's Royal Intel Ltd. 119201 AC 508, gurman vil 29. Dtd. /. Lora Auvocate (1965; MC 75, Laker Airways ito. v. Department of Trade 11977) 25 643

(1977) 05 643 (C..) and

Minister tor the Ci Council of Civil service unions v.

a citterent

Service

AC S!

+

he wouls

nave

co.ne

conclusion regarding the effect of the Governor's elevation

of the Magistrates' Ordinance rade without

under section

reference to article XIV. The olcta

to

the Crown's prero-ative

arl arent

these cases relating

eng to the effect of Acts of

Which twpinging upon any area

Expressed

in Gliterent

terias.

ecause,

es word held cuserveu

it occupies are

This is uncerstandable

12 the Burran 011

case

!

It is not easy to discover and uecice -he law regarding the royal Prerovative and the consequences of its exercise Apart

in re

d

Petition of might

Irom

Attorney-General v. De Keyser's royal hotel utu. (1923) AC 508, there have been no cases

Direct

raising the

matter for some centuries, and ociter dicta and the views of institutional writers and text .riters are not always very nelpful. The cefinition of Dicey (Law of the Constitution, luth ed., P.4241, always quoted with approval: 'The residue of discretionary or arpitrary authority, which at any given time is legall left in the hands or the Crown. aoes not take us very far. It is extremely difficult to be precise because an former times there was seldom a clear-cut view of the constitutional position. I think beware of looking at older autnorities through modern spectacles. We ought not to

we shoula

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.