HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952
the Chinese community have become increasingly aware of the advantages of marriages properly recorded in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance, as is evidenced by the fact that out of the total of 2,217 marriages registered in 1952, 1,867 were between persons of Chinese race, 245 taking place in licensed places of worship and 1,622 in the Registry. Of the remaining 351 marriages, which included 135 marriages of service- men, 197 took place in licensed places of worship and 154 in the Registry.
Companies, Trade Marks and Patents
New registrations of Hong Kong companies in 1952 totalled 244, or 17 more than in the previous year. Registration in Hong Kong is a simple and relatively inexpensive process, the maximum fee payable in respect of a company with a nominal share capital being $500. The local Companies Ordinance is based on the repealed United Kingdom Companies Act, 1929, but the ques- tion of the revision of Company Law in Hong Kong to incorporate the amendments effected in the United Kingdom by the Companies Act, 1948, is receiving consideration.
There was also an increase in the number of foreign corporations registered, i.e., companies incorporated outside the Colony but which registered the prescribed documents here in order to carry on business in the Colony; 32 such companies having registered in 1952 as against 19 in 1951. Notwithstanding this the total number of foreign companies (433) showed no increase over the aggregate for the previous year, due to the fact that 32 foreign companies ceased to carry on business in the Colony.
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