live together, have children, and are regarded by themselves and others as to all intents and purposes married. This unsatisfactory position has long been a matter of concern to Government, and careful consideration is being given to what steps should be taken to rectify it.
91. There were three full-time Marriage Registries functioning in the urban areas, namely, the principal Marriage Registry at the City Hall, the Kowloon Registry at Mong Kok, and the Causeway Bay Registry, the two former being capable of operating two marriage rooms simultaneously at rush periods. The facilities in the New Territories were improved by the conversion of the former 'part-time' Registries at Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long into full-time Registries. 'Part-time' Registries continued to operate at Tai Po one day a week, and Cheung Chau two days a month. Owing to lack of support the 'part time' Registries at Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan were as from August to October 1962 respectively reduced to opening two days a month instead of one day a week. Notices of marriage are exhibited at the Registry where given and also at the principal Marriage Registry, to which records of all marriages are sent for permanent retention.
92. Under Section 22(3)(b) of the Ordinance, where the Registrar is satisfied that he and the parties and witnesses all understand the Chinese language or the same dialect thereof, the marriage may be celebrated wholly in that language or dialect, and the majority of Registry marriages are now celebrated in Chinese without an interpreter. The form of marriage certificate incorporates a Chinese translation of the printed English text, but is completed in English only.
93. During the year five additional places of public worship were licensed by the Governor for the celebration of marriages under the Ordinance, one being in respect of a church transferred from another site, the licence for which was cancelled accordingly. All marriages per- formed at licensed places of worship are registered at the principal Registry in the City Hall.
Marriages performed and registered
94. Altogether 11,187 marriages were registered during the year. Of these, 9,938 were civil marriages a decrease of 654 compared with the previous year's total of 10,592. The civil marriages were performed in the Registries as follows:
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