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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 6TH FEBRUARY, 1869.

For Letters, 24 cents per half ounce.

For each Newspaper not exceeding 4 ounces, 4 cents: For a Packet of Books or Patterns, 8 cents per 4 ounces.

The Postage must in all cases be paid in advance; Correspondence not fully prepaid will be sent viâ Suez.

General Post Office, Hongkong, 1st February, 1869.

No. 11.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

F. W. MITCHELL, Postmaster General.

The following Despatch from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, relative to the Most Distinguished Order of SAINT MICHAEL AND SAINT GEORGE, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th January, 1869.

Hongkong.

J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.

DOWNING STREET, 8th December, 1868. SIR,-The QUEEN has had occasion to observe that the constant progress of the British Empire in population, wealth and enterprise and the increased opportunities thus happily afforded to Her Subjects of rendering effective services to their Sovereign and their Country, have in some respects You are aware that outgrown Her Majesty's means of recognizing those services in a fitting manner.

with the object of supplying that deficiency it was found requisite in the year 1847 to enlarge and modify the ancient Order of the Bath, and more recently that Her Majesty has been pleased to create a new Order of Knighthood-the Star of India,-for the reward of services rendered in relation to Her Indian Empire. The sphere of usefulness and eminence which is now open in the British Colonies is so varied and extensive as to render it, in Her Majesty's judgment, advisable that to them, as to India, a special form of distinction should be appropriated.

For this purpose Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to sanction such a modification of the .Statutes of the Order of ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE, originally instituted by King GEORGE III in connection with His Majesty's Mediterranean Possessions; and now presided over by a Prince of the Blood Royal, together with such an enlargement of its numbers as will render it available as a reward of distinguished merit or services in any part of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions.

I annex, for publication in the Colony under your Government, copies of so much of the new Statutes as prescribes the qualifications for admission into the Order and the number of the Knights.

The QUEEN is confident that this measure will be received by Her Subjects as an evidence of the importance which Her Majesty attaches to Her Colonial Dominions as integral parts of the British Empire, of Her constant interest in their progress, and of Her desire that services of which they are the scene or the occasion may not pass without adequate and appropriate recognition.-I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,

Governor

SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.,

Order to contain Three Classes of Knights Grand Cross, Knights Commanders, and Companions.

First Class to comprise

[25] Knights Grand Cross. Second Class to

comprise [60] Knights Commanders.

Third Class to comprise [100] Companions. Qualifications of

persons eligible for admission into the Order.

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

BUCKINGHAM & CHANDOS.

Extract from the Statutes of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George,

dated the 4th December, 1868.

Ir is Ordained, that this Most Distinguished Order shall contain. Three Classes, as in Our said Letters- Patent mentioned, to be Styled and Designated respectively-

KNIGHTS GRAND CROSS, KNIGHTS COMMANDERS, and COMPANIONS.

It is Ordained, that the First Class, or Knights Grand Cross, shall not exceed Twenty-five in Number.

It is Ordained, that the Second Class, or Knights Commanders, shall not exceed Sixty in Number.

It is Ordained, that the Third Class, or Companions, shall not exceed One hundred in Number.

It is Ordained, that the Persons to be admitted into this Most Distinguished Order, shall be such natural-born Subjects of Our Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as may have held, or shall hereafter hold, High and Confidential Offices within any of Our Colonial Possessions, or such Other natural-born Subjects of Our Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as may have held, or shall hereafter hold, High and Confidential Offices, or may render Extraordinary and Important Services to Us as Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in relation to any of Our Colonial Possessions, or who may become eminendy Distinguished therein by their Talents, Merits, Virtues, Loyalty, or Services, or who now are, or hereafter may be, appointed Officers of this Most Distin- guished Order.