Explanatory
PART III
MARRIAGE REGISTRY
14. All marriages, except non-Christian customary marriages, are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181). Under this, after a notice of intended marriage has been exhibited at the Registry for fifteen clear days, the Registrar issues a certificate which enables the marriage to be celebrated at a licensed place of worship, or contracted as a civil marriage before the Registrar. The Governor may grant a licence authorizing a marriage to take place before the expiry of the fifteen-day period, or a special licence dispensing with notice altogether.
15. Besides the principal Registry in the Supreme Court Building, there is a Kowloon Sub-Registry on the third floor of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building, 664, Nathan Road, Mong Kok. This Sub-Registry, opened in August, 1956, has been so well patronized by the public that it became necessary in August, 1957, to take over some adjoining space in order to provide a separate Marriage Room and Waiting Room, which have since being furnished in a manner befitting their purpose.
Marriages Registered
16. The total number of marriages registered in 1957/58 was 7,466 - 1,607 (27%) more than the previous year's then record total of 5,859. Of the 7,466 marriages, 7,053 were between Chinese parties, and 4,773 took place in the Principal Registry, 1,895 in the Kowloon Sub-Registry. The remaining 798 marriages were celebrated at licensed places of worship of various denominations.
Fees
17. The fees collected amounted to the record total of $89,654, nearly $20,000 more than in 1956/57. Particulars are given in Table VI. Comparison with Previous Years
18. Table VII gives statistics of marriages for each year since the war with, for comparison, the average figures for the five years 1935/39.
9