# Hong Kong Letters Patent 1938

Issued by King George VI of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 30th April 1938, and proclaimed by Governor Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote on 8th July, 1938, the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1938 amended Article XVI of the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917.
GEORGE THE SIXTH by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
To all to whom these Presents shall some, Greeting!
WHEREAS by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal bearing date at Westminster of the Fourteenth day of February, 1917, His Majesty King George the Fifth did constitute the office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Colony of Hong Kong and its Dependencies.
AND WHEREAS We are minded to make other provision than is contained in Article XVI of the said Letters Patent:
NOW KNOW YE that We do hereby declare Our will and pleasure as follows :-
I. Article XVI of the said Letters Patent of the Fourteenth day of February, 1917, is hereby revoked but without prejudice to anything lawfully down thereunder, and the following Article is substituted therefor :-
“XVI. The Governor may, subject to such instructions as may from time to time be given to him by Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, upon sufficient cause to him appearing, dismiss or suspend from the exercise of his office any person holding any public office within the Colony, or, subject as aforesaid, may take such other disciplinary action as may seem to him desirable.”
II. And We do hereby reserve to Ourselves, Our heirs and successors, full power and authority from time to time to revoke, alter, or amend these Our Letters Patent as to Us of them may seem fit.
And We do direct and enjoin that these Our Letters Patent shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the Governor by Proclamation in the Hong Kong Government Gazette, and shall be published in the said Gazette, and shall be read and proclaimed at such place or places within the Colony as the Governor may think fit.
In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent. Witness Ourself at Westminster this thirtieth day of April, 1938, in the Second year of Our Reign.
BY WARRANT under The King’s Sign Manual.
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