514 were under two years old, 140 two years old, and 243 three to four years old. Thus 897, or more than half of the total number of children adopted, were under five years old when adopted. The remaining 821 were distributed among the age groups as follows, 5-9 412, 10-14 261, and 15-20 148. 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, the father has hitherto usually been the adopter, but in 1969 the majority of sole male adopters were of no stated relationship.
182.
A comparison of the statistics for the last five years (1965-69) with those for the five years before that (1960-64) reveals, in addition to the trends noted in paragraph 181, that:
(1) the majority of adopters in both periods were joint adopters, and (2) there was an increase in the number of persons adopting children of their own or children otherwise related to them, as follows:
Adopted Children
With
Without
Relation-
Relation-
ship
ship
First 5 years (1.1.60 - 31.12.64) Last 5 years (1.1.65 - 31.12.69)
129
615
279
483
Compilation of Vital Statistics
183. The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the compila- tion of vital statistics for the Colony. The Hollerith system is used for compiling statistics of mortality, and information is recorded by means of punch cards covering 16 separate items. From 1st January 1969 the compilation of statistics was expanded to cover information relating to births, and this information, which includes 25 separate items, is recorded in separate statistical forms and coding sheets for card punching and data processing by computer. The Department main- tains close liaison in this work with the Medical and Health Depart- ment, the Census and Statistics Department and the Organizational Surveys Unit of the Secretariat.
Fees
184. The fees collected during the financial year amounted to $296,656. Particulars are given in Table XLIV.
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