14. 19,953 marriages were registered under the Marriage Ordinance, 373 less than in 1969–70 and 539 less than the record total of 20,492 set in 1968–69. In 2,710 cases out of the 19,953 the couples had previously been married to each other by customary ceremonies of one kind or another, so that the number of 'new' marriages was really 17,243, a decrease of 490 from last year's figure of 17,733. The year's total com- prised 1,818 marriages at 126 licensed places of worship and 18,135 marriages at Marriage Registries. In addition to these registered marriages there will have been many thousands of non-Christian customary marriages celebrated according to the personal law and religion of the parties. The Marriage Reform Ordinance, which was enacted on 10th July 1970, provides inter alia for the post-registration of customary and 'modern' marriages (see paragraph 207). Between the date of its enactment and 31st March 1971, a total of 173 post- registrations had been effected. So far as registered marriages are con- cerned the trend for girls to marry younger was again reversed with a reduction of 373 to 3,766 in the number of girls marrying under 21. There was an increase of 82 to 1,741 in the number of marriages performed in New Territories Registries. This is more than eight times as many as in 1960-61 when the Registries were opened.
15. 20,763 deaths were registered, 2,033 more than in 1969. This resulted in a 0.58 rise in the crude death rate to 5.27 per 1,000 of popula- tion, which is, however, still the second lowest in the world, and compares with an estimated 10 in Europe, 16 in Asia, and 14 in the World (see paragraph 167). The infant mortality rate dropped by 2.19 to 19.63 per 1,000 live births, continuing a downward trend broken only twice since 1950, when the rate was 99.6.
Revenue and Expenditure
16. As compared with 1969-70 the grand total of the Department's contribution to the revenue of the Colony was up by $4,458,322 to $14,870,068, this being due mainly to increases of $3,698,000 in fees received in the Companies Registry as a result of substantial increases in new companies registered and in the nominal capital of several large companies; of $375,000 in Land Office fees as a result of the substantial increase in the number of instruments registered; and of $165,000 in unclaimed balances and dividends of bankrupt estates and companies in liquidation. Total revenue exceeded the approved estimates by $8,208,000. The full Statement of Revenue is set out in Table III.
6