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Population and Immigration
outside Hong Kong. A 24-hour hotline, (852)1868, provides emergency assistance. The unit handled 3,968 assistance requests in 2019.
Marriages
Marriage registration is governed by the Marriage Ordinance. All marriages contracted under the ordinance involve the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. There is no residential or nationality requirement but neither party can be under the age of 16.
The Registrar of Marriages should be given at least 15 days' notice of an intended marriage, which must then take place within three months of the notice. Couples may marry at any of the five marriage registries or 271 licensed places of worship, or engage a civil celebrant to celebrate their marriage at any place in Hong Kong other than the marriage registries and licensed places of worship. During the year, 20,313 marriages were celebrated in marriage registries, 1,702 in licensed places of worship, and 22,505 by civil celebrants. The registrar issued 19,818 Certificates of Absence of Marriage Record.
Births and Deaths
Under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, parents shall register the birth of their child in Hong Kong with the Registrar of Births and Deaths within 42 days of the birth. Registration is free during that period. A fee is charged if the birth is registered after 42 days. Registration later than 12 months after birth requires the registrar's consent. Four district birth registries provide birth registration services. During the year, 53,168 live births were registered.
Deaths from natural causes should be registered by relatives within 24 hours. Three death registries and 15 designated police stations in the New Territories and outlying islands handle death registration free of charge. During the year, 48,706 deaths were registered.
Websites
Census and Statistics Department: www.censtatd.gov.hk
Immigration Department: www.immd.gov.hk
Security Bureau: www.sb.gov.hk
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