British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 110

CHAPTER IV.

United Kingdom and the Palestine (Defence) Orders in Council. A number of Defence Regulations were made during the War under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acts, but these are being rapidly rescinded as the conditions created by the War cease to be applicable. Under the Palestine (Defence) Orders in Council, regulations have been made and arc in force to meet civil disturbances. The bulk of the legislation of Palestine is by Ordinances promulgated by the High Commissioner after consultation with the Advisory Council and by Rules, Regulations and Orders made under Ordinances. Before a draft Ordinance is laid before Advisory Council it is approved by the High Commissioner in Executive Council. In certain cases Ordinances must be referred for the prior approval of the Secretary of State before introduction in Advisory Council. In all cases the assent of His Majesty (who may exercise the power of disallowance) is required on promulgation of Ordinances. Municipalities and local councils (vide under Cap. V) may, with the High Commissioner's consent, make by-laws under the provisions of the Ordinance respectively constituting those bodies. It may be noticed that, under Article 46 of the Palestine Orders in Council 1922-1940, both Ottoman law and also the Common Law and Doctrines of Equity of the United Kingdom are in force in Palestine subject to certain limitations.

6. The functions of government are organized on a departmental basis. The Government Service, by whom the organization is operated, comprised, at the beginning of 1945, 21,071 persons excluding police other ranks for whose establishment see paragraph 35 below. Of this total 7 ,702 were established civil servants and 13,369 unestablished civil servants and other employees. 737 are British; this includes British police officers but not other ranks. 20,334 are Palestine residents, all but 639 being Arabs or Jews. All Government employees are subject to the Regulations for His Majesty's Colonial Service, commonly described as Colonial Regulations, published in the annual Dominions Office and Colonial Office List *. In addition they are subject to General Regulations made by the High Commissioner with the approval of the Secretary of State. The terms of service of members of the Police Force and prisons service and of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force are, moreover, subject to specific legislation. Superannuation conditions for all civil servants are also governed by legislation.

7. The Chief Secretary is the principal executive officer of Government through whose office co-ordination of the manifold activities of Government is effected. He reports to the High Commissioner
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* Last available edition 1940 but reprints of Colonial Regulations are separately available.

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