JUSTICE, RECORDS, POLICE AND PRISONS
Nothwithstanding the fact that property values remained at a very high level a very large number of transactions in land were registered during the year, the total being 6,579 as against 6,600 in the previous year. The total money consideration expressed in the various documents registered in the Land Office during the financial year 1951/52 amounted to $317,974,403.96, an all-time record and a figure which is 30% higher than the total for 1950/51. The average rate of interest on mortgages registered remained at the high level of between 15-20% per annum.
All new grants of land are made by means of Crown lease and the Land Office of the Colony is responsible for the preparation and issue of all such leases, and for attending to the legal formalities in connexion with the surrender of land to Government, and advising Government generally on matters relating to the sale, exchange and resumption of land.
Marriage Registry
The Marriage Ordinance applies to all marriages solemnized in the Colony, except non-Christian Custom- ary marriages. The period of notice normally required is 15 days, but in exceptional circumstances the Governor may, by special licence, authorize the marriage to take place before the expiration of the normal period of notice. Marriages may be solemnized in any Church or place of worship licensed for that purpose, or may take place as civil marriages at the Registry. Two new Churches were licensed for marriages during the year, bringing the total of licensed places of worship to 49.
The validity of Chinese customary marriages not registered at the Registry remains, of course, unaffected by the Marriage Ordinance, but of late all classes of
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