The Hong Kong Letters Patent was one of the two constitutional documents of Hong Kong under the British administration. It was issued by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the form of royal prerogative legislation in 1843. Among the 24 paragraphs, it provided guidance of the establishment of the separation of powers in Hong Kong, the terms of the Governor of Hong Kong, authorizing the establishment of the Executive and Legislative Councils, as well as the duties of the government officials and so on. After several subsequent amendments, the latest version was promulgated in 1991. The document was replaced by the Hong Kong Basic Law after the handover of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China.
The Letters Patent had very strict restrictions on the power of the Governor and the executive, legislative and judicial branches. For example, the appointment or dismissal of justices must adopt very strict procedures to avoid the Governor obstructing the cause of justice.
The "Letters Patent" empowered the legislature to enact domestic laws. The Governor could not enact any domestic laws without the assent from the Legislative Councils although he was the president of it. But bill passed in the Legislative Council must receive the Governor's assent before it becoming law. The Governor could refuse to grant his assent for any reason. Also, the laws enacted could not exceed the power granted nor in conflict against the Constitutions.
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