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74. Of the 11,837 marriages registered 11,502 were between parties of Chinese race, including one celebrated under Section 40 of the Ordinance relating to marriages in articulo mortis. 184 of the parties married were divorced persons, and in accordance with the normal practice of the Registry the divorce documents were carefully scrutinized before the marriage was permitted to proceed. Hong Kong being a great, cosmopolitan centre with a large foreign community, most of whom are in the eyes of the law domiciled elsewhere and many of whom have been married and divorced in different countries, it is often by no means an easy matter to determine whether a divorce is valid in Hong Kong. There was one marriage by the Governor's special licence, and in 43 cases the Registrar in the exercise of the discretion conferred on him by the proviso to section 9 of the Ordinance issued his certifi- cate allowing the marriage to proceed before the expiry of the prescribed fifteen days' notice. The Registrar exercises this discretion only when he is satisfied that there are special circumstances justifying his doing so and that the parties are free to marry.
Opening of City Hall Marriage Registry
75. The most notable event of the year from the Marriage Registry point of view was the transfer of the principal Marriage Registry from its old accommodation in the Supreme Court Building to the first floor of the High Block of the new City Hall. The principal Marriage Registry had been located in the Supreme Court Building since the Land Officer was first appointed Registrar of Marriages in 1927. Before the war the Registry was actually situated inside the Land Office, and the bridal parties with their witnesses had to thread their way through the Land Office to the room where the ceremony was performed. After the war the Marriage Registry was allotted a small room of its own at the south end of the Supreme Court Building, and this was doubled in size in 1954 to about 1,200 sq. ft. to form the Registry which was in use up to 17th March 1962.
76. The new City Hall Registry is a vast improvement on its predecessor, having been specially designed for its purpose. It has a floor area of 5,000 sq. ft. and incorporates many attractive features. As may be seen from the photograph included in this Report the Marriage Room is a large, handsomely decorated and beautifully furnished chamber with seats for 36 people besides the parties, and room for more if required. The Deputy Registrar's room is also a large, well-furnished room, and is intended for use as a second marriage room during rush
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