POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
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of new identity cards, namely the Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card, which states that the holder has the right of abode in Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Identity Card which does not state that right. These cards will remain valid beyond July 1, 1997 until they are replaced by the future Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. In 1992, 550 000 new identity cards were issued, 273 500 to new arrivals and persons having reached the age of 11 or 18, and 226 200 to persons who had lost or damaged their identity cards or whose identity cards needed amending.
Naturalisation
After the phenomenal increase in 1990, the number of applications for naturalisation levelled off in 1991 but increased again in 1992. During the year, a total of 5 381 applica- tions for naturalisation were received, up 20 per cent on the 4 499 applications in 1991.
Marriages
The registration of marriages, births and deaths is the responsibility of the Immigration Department.
All marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Under the Marriage Ordinance, at least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar of Marriages. The registrar has discretionary powers to reduce the period of notice if there are special circumstances or to grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether. But this is done only in exceptional circum-
stances.
Marriages may take place at any of the 217 places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages, or at any of the 10 full-time marriage registries and three part-time sub-registries. Of the 10 full-time marriage registries, four are also open on Sundays. They are the City Hall Marriage Registry, Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry, Sha Tin Marriage Registry and Tsim Sha Tsui Marriage Registry. During the year 43 235 marriages were performed in the registries and 2 467 at licensed places of worship. All records are maintained permanently in the General Register Office.
The Marriage Reform Ordinance provides that all marriages entered into in Hong Kong on or after October 7, 1971, shall imply the voluntary union, for life, of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. They may be contracted only in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance. Certain customary marriages and others known as 'modern marriages' remain valid, provided that they were entered into before October 7, 1971. Such marriages may be post-registered or dissolved. During the year, 17 customary and 60 'modern marriages' were post-registered.
Special arrangements are made to enable Vietnamese illegal immigrants in detention centres to register their marriages in Hong Kong. In 1992, 1 028 marriages were contracted under these arrangements.
The Registrar of Marriages is also responsible for issuing Certificates of Absence of Marriage Records to local residents. During the year 33 276 such certificates were issued, down 11.91 per cent on the 37 775 in 1991.
Births and Deaths
The registration of births and deaths is compulsory. The General Register Office keeps all records of births and deaths.