LAW AND ORDER
Governor in cases where circumstances of an unfore- seen or urgent nature preclude the full period of notice. The Governor may also, at his decretion, in cases of emergency or other exceptional circumstances, grant a Special Licence dispensing with the necessity for notice. and authorizing the marriage at a place and at a time specified in the licence. 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. The total of licensed places of worship is
now 57.
The validity of Chinese customary marriages which are not registered at the Registry remains unaffected by the Marriage Ordinance. Marriage at the Registry is however becoming increasingly popular with all classes of the Chinese community, and out of a total of 3,457 marriages registered in 1954 (an increase of 797 over 1953's total), 3,166 were between persons of Chinese race, 392 of these taking place in licensed places of worship, and 2,774 in the Registry. Of the remaining 291 marriages, 182 took place in licensed places of worship and 109 in the Registry.
Where parties, one at least of whom is a British subject, desire to marry in a foreign country, notice of the intended marriages may be given under the Foreign Marriage Ordinance provided one of the parties has been resident in the Colony for one week immediately preceding such notice.
In the early part of the year the Marriage Registry was enlarged and re-designed, a new Marriage Room attractively lighted and furnished being added.
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