61659-1919-The-Most-Excellent-Order-of-the-British-Empire-Further-Amended-Statutes-of-the — Page 2

=

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, DECEMBER 12, 1919. 501

And whereas we deemed it expedient that alterations should be made in the Statutes of the said Order: We therefore in pursuance of the Power vested in Us by the said Letters Patent did make, ordain and establish certain amended Statutes bearing date the twelfth day of April 1918:

And whereas it is expedient that certain further alterations should be made in the existing Statutes of the said Order:

Now know ye that in pursuance and in exercise of the power vested in Us by the said Letters Patent We have abrogated and annulled and do hereby abrogate and repeal the said Statutes:

And further know all ye to whom these Presents shall come that in substitution thereof We have made, ordained and established, and by these Presents, sealed with the Seal of the said Order, do make, ordain and establish the following Statutes and Ordi- nances, namely:-

1. It is ordained and enjoined that this Order of Chivalry shall be styled and designated in all Acts, proceedings, and pleadings The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as in Our said Letters Patent is directed, and by no other designation.

19

2. It is ordained that the said Order shall consist of the Sovereign and a Grand Master and of five several classes: -I. "Knights Grand Cross" and "Dames Grand Cross.' II. "Knight Commanders" and "Dames Commanders.' III. "Commanders." IV. "Officers." V. "Members." And it is further ordained that each and every of these five Classes shall likewise contain two sub-divisions whereof the first shall be styled "Military" and the second "Civil," each of which sub-divisions shall be composed partly of Ordinary and partly of Honorary Members.

3. It is ordained that We, Our heirs and successors, Kings or Queens Regnant of Our said United Kingdom, are and for ever shall be Sovereigns of this Order, to whom 'doth and shall belong all power of annulling, interpreting, explaining, or augmenting these and every part of these Statutes.

4. We do hereby ordain, direct and appoint that a Prince of the Blood Royal or such other exalted personage as We, Our heirs and successors shall hereafter appoint shall be Grand Master of the said Order, and shall in virtue thereof be the First or Principal Knight Grand Cross of the said Order, to whose custody shall be confided the Great Seal of the Order, which he shall affix to all Statutes, Ordinances, and Instruments according to the regulations touching the issues of every of the said Instruments; and it is further ordained that it shall be his special duty to enforce the due observance of the Statutes. and Ordinances of this Order, and that he shall likewise direct the issue of all letters of Summons whenever the Sovereign shall be pleased to command an Investiture of the said Most Excellent Order.

5. It is ordained that all commissioned, warrant and subordinate Officers subject to the Naval Discipline Act or employed under the Order of the Admiralty, and all com- missioned and warrant Officers recommended by any Commander-in-Chief in the field or elsewhere, or by the General Officer Commanding, Independent Force, Royal Air Force, or employed under the War Office or Air Ministry, or under the Administrative Head- quarters of Dominions or Overseas Forces, or employed under the Ministry of Munitions. or the Ministry of National Service on work which, but for the creation of those Depart- ments, would have been performed by the War Office; and all members of the Naval, Army, Dominions, or Overseas Nursing Services, or officials of the Women's Royal Naval Service, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, or the Women's Royal Air Force, and such commandants of the Women's Legion or similar organisations as are under contract with or employed by the Admiralty, War Office or Air Ministry shall be eligible for appoint- ment to the Military Division of this Order.

6. It is ordained that the persons to be admitted to the Civil Division of the said Order shall be such persons, male or female, as may have rendered or shall hereafter render important services to our Empire.

7. It is ordained that foreign persons upon whom We may think fit to confer the honour of being received into this Order shall be deemed to be, and described as, Honorary Knights Grand Cross or Honorary Dames Grand Cross, Honorary Knights Commanders or Honorary Dames Commanders, Honorary Commanders, Honorary Officers, and Honorary Members, according to the classes in the Order to which they belong.