he was called upon in this capacity to act as representative as Guardian ad Litem of a patient in a mental hospital who was being divorced by her husband on the ground that she was mentally of unsound mind. The Registrar General appeared in the Supreme Court in the divorce proceedings, and subsequently appeared before the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court in the same case on the hearing of an application for a change in the appointment of the Committee of the estate of the wife.
PART VIII
MARRIAGE REGISTRY
Explanatory
139. All marriages except non-Christian customary marriages are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance. Under this, after a notice of intended marriage has been exhibited at the Registry for fifteen clear days, a certificate is issued which enables the marriage to be celebrated at a licensed place of worship, or contracted as a civil marriage before a Deputy Registrar. Where he is satisfied that there are special circumstances justifying his doing so, the Registrar may issue the certificate at any time within the fifteen days. Under Section 11 the Governor may, when he sees fit, grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether or with the certificate of the Registrar or with both. Such licences are given only in exceptional circumstances.
140. Notices of marriage are exhibited at the Registry where given and also at the principal Marriage Registry, to which records of all marriages under the Ordinance are sent for permanent retention.
141. The Marriage Ordinance does not apply to non-Christian customary marriages duly celebrated according to the personal law and religion of the parties. No records of such marriages are available, but it is estimated that in 1967-68 there may have been in the region of three unregistered marriages for every four registered, excluding remarriages of the type mentioned in paragraph 151. As mentioned in previous reports the position with respect to these unregistered marriages is far from satisfactory, the great majority being of doubtful validity since they have been contracted not in accordance with the full
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