THE COURTS, POLICE, PRISONS AND RECORDS
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Hong Kong law does not provide for the original grant of patents, but patents registered in the United Kingdom are registra- ble under the Registration of United Kingdom Patents Ordinance (Chapter 42). This provides that the grantee of a patent in the United Kingdom may, within five years from the date of issue of the patent, apply to have it registered in Hong Kong. During the year seventy seven patents were so registered.
Bankruptcies and Liquidations. Fifteen bankruptcy petitions (two relating to the same debtor) were filed during the year and Receiving Orders made in eleven cases. The Official Receiver was appointed Trustee in eight of these cases. In the other three the creditors were not due to meet until January 1959. In one case involving two weaving factories at Tsuen Wan employing some 450 workers, the Official Receiver managed to arrange, within one month from the date of the Adjudication Order, for the factories to be taken over by another manufacturer, thus enabling the workers to resume work.
Four petitions were presented for the compulsory winding-up of companies, one of which was withdrawn prior to the hearing. One winding-up order was made, and the Official Receiver appointed Liquidator. The remaining two petitions were pending at the end of the year.
Marriages. All marriages, except non-Christian customary marriages, are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance (Chapter 181). Under this, it is necessary for a notice of intended marriage to be exhibited at the Registry for fifteen clear days, after which the Registrar issues a certificate which enables the marriage to be solemnized at a licensed place of worship, or to take place as a civil marriage before the Registrar. The Governor has the power in special circumstances to grant a licence authorizing a marriage to take place before the expiry of the fifteen day period, or dispensing with notice altogether.
Notices of intended marriage are accepted, and civil marriages are performed, both at the main Marriage Registry in the Supreme Court Building in Hong Kong and at the Kowloon Sub-Registry situated in the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building, Mong Kok.
The validity of Chinese customary marriages is not affected by the Marriage Ordinance, and such marriages do not require to be
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