ORDINANCE No. 1 OF 1852.
Marriage.
7. Any person authorized in that behalf may forbid the issue of the Marriage Registrar's certificate by writing at any time before the issue of such certificate the word "Forbidden" opposite to the entry of the notice of such intended marriage in the Marriage Notice Book, and by subscribing thereto his or her name and place of abode and his or her character in respect of either of the parties by reason of which he or she is so authorized, and the said word "Forbidden" so written and subscribed as aforesaid shall be deemed a protest within the meaning of this Ordinance.
8. In all cases where the Marriage Registrar shall not be satisfied that the person forbidding the issue of the certificate is authorized by law so to do, the said Marriage Registrar shall apply by petition to the Supreme Court of Hongkong, and the said petition shall state all the circumstances of the case and pray for the order and direction of the Court concerning the same, and the said Supreme Court or any Judge thereof shall be empowered to examine into the allegations of the petition and the circumstances of the case in a summary way; and if upon such examination it shall appear that the person forbidding the issue of such certificate is not authorized by law so to do, such Supreme Court or a Judge thereof shall declare that the person forbidding the issue of such certificate is not authorized as aforesaid, and that then and in such case such certificate shall be issued and the like proceedings may be had under this Ordinance in relation to such marriage as if the issue of such certificate had not been forbidden by such person.
9. After the issue of the certificate of the Marriage Registrar, marriage may be solemnized between and by the parties described in such certificate or certificates according to such form and ceremony as they may see fit to adopt. Provided nevertheless that such marriage shall be solemnized between the hours of six in the morning and seven in the evening in the presence of the Marriage Registrar, to whom shall be delivered such certificate or certificates as aforesaid and of two or more witnesses, and that in some part of the ceremony each of the parties shall declare, "I do solemnly declare, that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, A. B., may not be joined in matrimony to C. D.," or shall declare to the like effect; and each of the parties shall say to the other, "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I A. B. do take thee C. D. to be my lawful wedded wife [or husband]," or other words to the like effect: Provided also that there be no lawful impediment to the marriage of such parties.
10. And such ceremony shall be solemnized in some public place of Christian worship, or at the office of the said Registrar, unless in such cases where the Governor of the said Colony shall by special licence for that purpose authorize such solemnization to be had at some other place.
11. When a marriage is not solemnized within three calendar months after the notice shall have been so entered by the Marriage Registrar, the notice and certificate which may have been issued thereupon and all other proceedings thereupon shall be utterly void; and no person shall proceed to solemnize the marriage nor shall any Marriage Registrar register the same until new notice shall have been given and entry made, and certificate thereof given, at the time and in the manner aforesaid.
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How issue of certificate may be forbidden.
References by the Registrar in cases of doubt.
After issue of certificate, marriage may be solemnized in the presence of Marriage Registrar and two witnesses at prescribed hours, according to ceremonies the parties may adopt.
Places where ceremony is to be solemnized.
When the marriage is not solemnized within three months after notice, new notice required.