Public Seal of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
The Public Seal of Hong Kong , formally known as Public Seal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the seal
for certifying government documents and legislations. It is held by the Chief Executive.
Prior to the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, it was known as the Public Seal of the Colony of Hong Kong, used to give authority to official documents and granting Royal Assent
in Hong Kong
. The Governor
was the keeper of the seal.
Design: The seal is engraved as follows. In the centre an oval medallion in which is depicted Hong Kong harbour with, in the foreground, a wharf with three people and five bales of merchandise on it; in the middleground, a Chinese junk under sail and a three-masted European-style sailing ship with bare yardarms; and in the background, mountains comprising the Peak District of Hong Kong. The medallion is encircled by a scroll surmounted with the Royal Arms and supporters and bearing the words 'Hong Kong' in the lower portion. Around the lower half of the medallion is a second scroll with the words 'King Defender of the Faith Emperor of India
'. Encircling the whole are the words 'George VI by the Grace of God of Great Britain Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas'. On the side the seal bears the hallmark of the Royal Mint.
Holders: When this seal was introduced the Governor was Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote
who held the post from 28 October 1937 until 10 September 1941. He was followed by Sir Mark Aitchison Young
whose tenure was interrupted by the occupation of Hong Kong by Japan on 25 December 1941. Sir Mark resumed his governorship following the defeat of Japan in August 1945. He was succeeded in turn by Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham on 25 July 1947 who was governor when the public seal was replaced.
Design: Following Indian independence the previous year, a Royal Proclamation issued in 1948 gave notice that the words 'Emperor of India' were to be omitted from all instruments bearing the Royal Style and Title. In October 1948 the seal was withdrawn from use and replaced by another of a similar design but with the Royal Style and Title amended.
Holder: Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham
Design: Queen Elizabeth II succeeded King George VI as the Queen of the United Kingdom. The Public Seal was revised to the current Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with the Royal Style and Title amended.
Holders: Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham, Sir Robert Brown Black
, Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench
, Sir Murray MacLehose, Sir Edward Youde
, Sir David Wilson
& The Rt. Hon. Chris Patten
At the midnight hour of 1 July 1997 when British Sovereignty over Hong Kong ended, a junior Executive Council
official removed the Public Seal and formally defaced it with a ragged cross, using a chisel.
Under the Public Records (Access) Rules, the public can request to see government documents where contents were made available to the public and older than 30 years old. Currently, one of the metal seal used in 1939–1948 is available from the Government Records Service, located at the Hong Kong Public Records Building.
Seal (device)
A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
for certifying government documents and legislations. It is held by the Chief Executive.
Prior to the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, it was known as the Public Seal of the Colony of Hong Kong, used to give authority to official documents and granting Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. The Governor
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
was the keeper of the seal.
History
The Governor of the Crown Colony of Hong Kong had possessed and used a public seal from the foundation of the colony in 1843. Article VI of the letters patent issued to the Governor stated: "The Governor shall keep and use the Public Seal of the Colony for sealing all things whatsoever that shall pass the said Public Seal."Description of the Colonial seal
- 1939–1948 Public seal
Design: The seal is engraved as follows. In the centre an oval medallion in which is depicted Hong Kong harbour with, in the foreground, a wharf with three people and five bales of merchandise on it; in the middleground, a Chinese junk under sail and a three-masted European-style sailing ship with bare yardarms; and in the background, mountains comprising the Peak District of Hong Kong. The medallion is encircled by a scroll surmounted with the Royal Arms and supporters and bearing the words 'Hong Kong' in the lower portion. Around the lower half of the medallion is a second scroll with the words 'King Defender of the Faith Emperor of India
Emperor of India
Emperor/Empress of India was used as a title by the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah II, and revived by the colonial British monarchs during the British Raj in India....
'. Encircling the whole are the words 'George VI by the Grace of God of Great Britain Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas'. On the side the seal bears the hallmark of the Royal Mint.
Holders: When this seal was introduced the Governor was Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote
Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote
Sir Geoffry Alexander Stafford Northcote, KCMG was a British colonial administrator.-Early life, education, and early colonial services career:...
who held the post from 28 October 1937 until 10 September 1941. He was followed by Sir Mark Aitchison Young
Mark Aitchison Young
Sir Mark Aitchison Young, GCMG was a British administrator who became the Governor of Hong Kong during the years immediately before and after the Japanese occupation of the territory.-Early life, service in war:...
whose tenure was interrupted by the occupation of Hong Kong by Japan on 25 December 1941. Sir Mark resumed his governorship following the defeat of Japan in August 1945. He was succeeded in turn by Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham on 25 July 1947 who was governor when the public seal was replaced.
- 1948–1952 Public Seal
Design: Following Indian independence the previous year, a Royal Proclamation issued in 1948 gave notice that the words 'Emperor of India' were to be omitted from all instruments bearing the Royal Style and Title. In October 1948 the seal was withdrawn from use and replaced by another of a similar design but with the Royal Style and Title amended.
Holder: Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham
- 1952–1997 Public Seal
Design: Queen Elizabeth II succeeded King George VI as the Queen of the United Kingdom. The Public Seal was revised to the current Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom with the Royal Style and Title amended.
Holders: Sir Alexander William George Herder Grantham, Sir Robert Brown Black
Robert Brown Black
Sir Robert Brown Black GCMG, OBE was a British colonial administrator. He would spend three decades overseas and return to Britain in the 1960s: he was Governor of Hong Kong from 23 January 1958 to 1 April 1964, having been Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1952 – 1955...
, Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench
David Clive Crosbie Trench
Sir David Clive Crosbie Trench, GCMG, MC, DL 2 June 1915 – 4 December 1988 was a British soldier and colonial governor.-Early life:Trench was educated at Tonbridge School, Tonbridge, Kent and graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge with the degree of Master of Arts .-War service:In 1938, Trench...
, Sir Murray MacLehose, Sir Edward Youde
Edward Youde
Sir Edward Youde GCMG, GCVO, MBE was a British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. He served as Governor of Hong Kong between 20 May 1982 and 5 December 1986.-Early years:...
, Sir David Wilson
David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn
David Clive Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn, is a retired British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist. Lord Wilson of Tillyorn was the penultimate Commander-in-Chief and 27th Governor of Hong Kong...
& The Rt. Hon. Chris Patten
Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....
At the midnight hour of 1 July 1997 when British Sovereignty over Hong Kong ended, a junior Executive Council
Executive Council of Hong Kong
The Executive Council of Hong Kong is a core policy-making organ in the executive branch of the government of Hong Kong.. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong serves as its President.The Executive Council normally meets once a week...
official removed the Public Seal and formally defaced it with a ragged cross, using a chisel.
Under the Public Records (Access) Rules, the public can request to see government documents where contents were made available to the public and older than 30 years old. Currently, one of the metal seal used in 1939–1948 is available from the Government Records Service, located at the Hong Kong Public Records Building.