POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
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passport is normally valid for 10 years for persons 16 years of age or over and five years for children under 16. At the end of 1997, 335 658 HKSAR passports were issued.
With effect from April 1, 1997, the British Consulate-General has taken over from the Immigration Department responsibility for issuing and renewing British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passports. All records of BN(O) passports issued previously by the department were transferred to the Consulate-General.
For the period from January to June 1997, the demand for Hong Kong Certificates of Identity decreased by 32.4 per cent compared with the corresponding months in 1996. The issuing of Hong Kong Certificates of Identity ceased on July 1, 1997, and most holders may now apply for a HKSAR passport. However, Certificates of Identity have a 10-year validity and are valid travel documents until their expiry. Demand for re-entry permits decreased by 37.4 per cent.
There are two types of identity cards: 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 carry that right. The fully automated system for booking appointments by telephone has been well accepted by the public. In 1997, 728 257 identity cards were issued: 313 621 to new arrivals and persons who reached the age of 11 or 18 years, and 236 980 to people who applied for replacement identity cards due to loss, damage or change of personal particulars.
Marriages
Marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Normally, at least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar of Marriages.
Marriages may take place at any of the 221 places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages, or at any of the 10 marriage registries operated by the government. Four marriage registries are open on Sundays. During the year, 35 295 marriages were performed in the registries and 2 298 at the licensed places of worship. All records are maintained permanently at the General Register Office in the Queensway Government Offices.
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 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, 11 customary and 35 modern marriages were post-registered.
The Registrar of Marriages is also responsible for issuing Certificates of Absence of Marriage Records to local residents. During the year, 37 221 such certificates were issued, up 28 per cent from the 28 994 issued in 1996.
Births and Deaths
Births and deaths must be registered. Records are kept in the General Register Office. During the year, 60 379 live births and 32 079 deaths were registered, compared with 64 559 and 32 049 respectively in 1996. The figures, when adjusted for under- registration, gave a natural increase in population for 1997 of about 0.4 per cent.