TNAG-2459-FCO40-3580-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-administrati-1992 — Page 171

ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS

FOR HONG KONG

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XXVI. The Governor shall not, except in the cases hereunder mentioned, assent in Our name to any Bill of any of the following classes-

1. Any Bill for the divorce of persons jointed together in holy matrimony:

2. Any Bill whereby any grant of land or money, or other donation or gratuity, may be made to himself:

3.

Any Bill affecting the Currency of the Colony or relating

to the issue of Bank notes:

or

4. Any Bill establishing any Banking Association, amending or altering the constitution, powers, or privileges of any Banking Association:

5. Any Bill imposing differential duties:

6... Any Bill the provisions of which shall appear inconsistent with obligations imposed upon Us by Treaty:

7.

Any Bill interfering with the discipline or control of Our forces by land, sea, or air:

8. Any Bill of an extraordinary nature and importance, whereby Our prerogative, or the rights and property of Our subjects not residing in the Colony, or the trade and shipping of Our United Kingdom and its Dependencies, may be prejudiced:

7819 Any Bill whereby persons not of European birth or descent may be subjected or made liable to any disabilities or restrictions to which persons of European birth or descent are not also subjected or made liable:

10. Any Bill containing provisions to which Our assent has been once refused, or which have been disallowed by Us:

Unless in the case of any Bill as aforesaid the Governor shall Have previously obtained Our instructions upon such Bill through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, or unless such Bill shall contain a clause suspending the operation of such Bill until the signification of Our pleasure thereupon, or unless the Governor shall have satisfied himself that an urgent necessity exists requiring that such Bill be brought into immediate operation, in which case he is authorized to assent in Our name to such Bill, unless the same shall be repugnant to the law of England, or inconsistent with any obligations imposed on Us by Treaty. But he is to Transmit to Us, by the earliest opportunity, the Bill so assented to, together with his reasons for assenting thereto.

XXVII. Every Bill, not being a Government measure, intended to affect or benefit some particular person, association or corporate body shall contain a section saving the rights of Us, Our heirs and successors, all bodies politic and corporate, and all others except such as are mentioned in the Bill and those claiming by, from, and under them. No such Bill shall be introduced into the

hus,

Description of Bills not to be assented to.

Proviso in cases of emergency for immediate operation of an Ordinance.

Private Bills. (Amended on 17.11.67.)