provide for the re-registration of births and deaths recorded in registers destroyed or lost during the Japanese occupation. 77 births were re- registered during the year. Altogether 5,143 births and 65 deaths have now been re-registered under these two Ordinances.
Prosecutions
173. As a result of information given to the Police by the Registry four prosecutions were undertaken, mostly in respect of false information given in relation to births. All the accused were convicted, and fines of up to $100 were imposed.
Adoptions
174. An adopted Children Register is maintained at the General Register Office under the Adoption Ordinance, 1956. During 1963-64, 121 adoptions were registered, 52 less than in 1962-63. These new re- gistrations brought to 871 the total number of adoptions registered since the first entry was made on 22nd July 1957 up to 31st March 1964. Table XXXVII shows the relationship of adopters to the 845 children adopted under the Adoption Ordinance up to 31st December 1963, distinguishing sex and age. It will be seen from this that over twice as many female children were adopted as male, the totals being 569 and 276 respectively. 265 of the children adopted were under two years old, 62 two years old, and 137 three and four years old. Thus 464 or more than half of the 845 children adopted were under five years old when adopted. The remaining 381 were distributed among the age groups thus, 5-9 228, 10-14 117, and 15-20 36. In the cases of joint adopters and sole female adopters the adopters fall mainly into the category of no stated relationship. In the case of sole male adopters, however, the father is usually the adopter.
Compilation of Vital Statistics
175. The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the compilation of vital statistics for the Colony. The Hollerith system is used for com- piling statistics of mortality, and information is recorded by means of punched cards, covering the age, sex, marital status, nationality, occupa- tion, place of death of the deceased, and also the cause of death, whether the body was sent to a mortuary, and the registration number of the attending doctor. In relation to these statistics close liaison with the Medical and Health Department and the Statistical Branch of the Com- merce and Industry Department is maintained.
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