and the Chinese unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils as to the recommendations that should be put to the Govern- ment, 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.
145. 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, Aberdeen, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon City and Kwun Tong, and a 'part-time' registry at 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, 'part-time' registries at Cheung Chau and Sai Kung open two days a month, and a further 'part-time' registry at Sha Tau Kok open once a week. The Aberdeen and Sha Tau Kok Registries, which were established during the year, are dealt with in more detail in the next paragraph. 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 353 Sunday marriages were performed at the Registry.
New Accommodation for the Aberdeen Marriage Registry and extension
of facilities in the New Territories
146. On 1st November 1968, a 'part-time' marriage registry was established at the Rural Committee office in the border village of Sha Tau Kok in the New Territories. This office is open for business once a week, and has been warmly welcomed by the villagers, who up to then had to travel to the nearest marriage registry at Tai Po, about 30 minutes away by bus. On 10th February 1969, the 'part-time' marriage registry at the Aberdeen Kai Fong Association moved to new accommodation on the 1st floor of the Chartered Bank Building, Aberdeen Main Road, to become a full-time registry. This new registry
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