TNAG-2219-FCO40-3187-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-and-R-1991 — Page 83

Citation,

construction and

commencement.

Amendment of Article VII of

principal Letters Patent.

Reservations.

ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING!

Know Ye that We have declared and by these Presents do declare Our Will and Pleasure as follows-

1.-(1) These Our Letters may be cited as the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1991 (No. 2) and shall be construed as one with the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917 as amended (hereinafter called "the principal Letters Patent").

(2) The Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917 to 1990 and 1991 (No. 1) and these Our Letters may be cited together as the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917 to 1991 (Nos. 1 and 2).

(3) These Our Letters shall be published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette and shall come into operation upon the day immediately following the date of such publication.

2. Article VII of the principal Letters Patent is amended by adding the following new paragraph:-

"(3) The provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 16 December 1966, as applied to Hong Kong, shall be implemented through the laws of Hong Kong. No law of Hong Kong shall be made after the coming into operation of the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1991 (No. 2) that restricts the rights and freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong in a manner which is inconsistent with that Covenant as applied to Hong Kong.".

3. We do hereby reserve to Ourself, Our Heirs and Successors full power and authority to amend or revoke these Presents.

In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent.

Witness Ourself at Westminster the day of my in the Fortieth year of Our Reign.

BY WARRANT UNDER THE HANDS OF THE COUNSELLORS OF STATE.

LEGG