Jan. 22.
A telegram in yesterday's issue, delayed apparently by the Censor, stated that the British residents in Hongkong are being invited to sign a petition to the Secretary of State for the Colonies asking for greater representation of the public on the Executive and Legislative Councils. The majority of our readers are probably not an fait with the details of the Colony's administration, an outline of which will enable them to understand the significance of the message just referred to. The Constitution of the Executive Council was fixed by Letters Patent issued on January 19, 1888. These'stated that it should consist of the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, if any, the Benior Military Officer for' the time being in command of His—or, as was then the case, Her—Majesty's troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, the Colonial Treasurer and of such other persons as the Crown might from time to time appoint. The Legislative Council is constituted in accordance with Instructions issued on May 29, 1896, which laid down that it should consist of the officials just mentioned, ''such other persons holding offices in the Colony not exceeding three in number at any one time"' as at the time of the receipt of the Instructions were already official members, or as the Crown might from time to time appoint, and "'of such persons, not exceeding six in number at any one time" as at the time of the receipt of the Instructions were unofficial members, or as the Governor, in pursuance of any instructions'? through one of the principal Secretaries of State might nominate. Four of these nominees are appointed by the Governor, one is elected by the Chamber of Commerce and one by the Justices of the Peace. All rank after the official members who are definitely described in the Instructions as taking pre-cadence of them. Five members of the Council form a quorum and its meetings may be suspended or adjourned at any time by the President, namely the Governor, or, in his absence, the member who is first in precedence of those present.
From this very brief sketch, which anybody who cares to turn up the Charter of the Colony can fill in and add to for himself (it
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.