traditional forms prescribed by Chinese custom, but in supposed con- formity with articles 980 to 988 of the Civil Code of the former Nationalist Government of China. There are also large numbers of irregular unions in which the two parties live together, have children, and are regarded by themselves and others as to all intents and purposes married. Much thought has been given in the past to this unsatisfactory situation and the measures required to deal with it, and a number of reports on the subject have been published. In mid-1965 unanimous agreement was reached between the Attorney General, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the Chinese unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils as to the recommendations that should be put to the Government, and these were submitted in the form of a joint report known as the McDouall-Heenan Report. Subsequently the Executive Council endorsed the recommendations, which were then transmitted to the Colonial Office and approved by the Secretary of State. On 17th May 1967, the Secretariat published a White Paper setting out the approved recommendations in relatively simple terms for the information of the public at large.
142. The principal Marriage Registry is located in the City Hall. In addition there are in the urban areas full-time registries at Causeway Bay, Western District, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong, and 'part-time' registries at Aberdeen and Shau Kei Wan open two days a month. In the New Territories there are full-time registries at Tai Po, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long, and 'part-time' registries at Cheung Chau and Sai Kung open two days a month. The City Hall Registry opens on Sunday mornings throughout the year for the performance of Registry marriages. The main reason for the Sunday opening, which was instituted in 1966, was that not infrequently the lucky day for the marriage of a particular couple under their horoscopes or a lucky day for marriages generally according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar happens to fall on a Sunday. Another reason was that some couples prefer a Sunday marriage because it means no interference with a normal working day for the parties and their guests. During the year 354 Sunday marriages were performed at the Registry.
New Accommodation for Registries in Kowloon
143. On 5th June 1967 the Registry at Farm Road moved to new accommodation in the Fook Toa Mansion, Sung Wong Toi Road, and
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