b st. Nr 860
trong động
18th March 1875 18th March 1875
The Rt Rev Bishop Raimondi
and other Roman Catholic Ruest,
lo.
His Excelloney The Adminishat and the members of the legislation
Connell
Marriage Megistration Bill.
Proties against the passing.
REPORT.
34
60
در
414
1. Your Committee have carefully considered the Bill "to provide a General Register of Marriages elebrated in Hongkong." They have, also, weighed the objections and suggestions regarding the Bill, made by the Representatives of the different Religious Communities, and they beg to report as
follows:
2. With the exception of the Roman Catholic Clergy, there is a strongly expressed opinion in favor of the measure, although there are objections to some of its minor details. These refer more especially to the time required to elapse between giving a Notice of Marriage and the issue of a Certificate by the Registrar General (Section XI)-and to the Table of Fees,
It was further urged
by some that publication by Banns should be allowed to take the place of notice to the Registrar
General.
3. On these points, your Committee recommend that in Section XI "twenty-one" days be altered to "fifteen" days; that the Table of Fees be reduced according to the Scale annexed to the print of the Bill attached to this Report, but that nothing be allowed to interfere with the requirements of the Bill as to notifying to the Registrar General the particulars specified. Your Committee, on this last point, would draw attention to the fact, that the proposed law does not affect the present law as to It simply enjoins on the parties to a Marriage and the Officiating publication of Marriages by Banus. Minister certain civil duties of no irksome character, in addition to what the Anglican Church requires under a recognized regulation. They think, therefore, that the two obligations-one to the Church, and the other to the State--should be kept distinct and apart.
4. The objection to the Bill raised by the Roman Catholic Clergy is based on a question of principle. They hold that the proposed enactament is at variance with Roman Catholic doctrine and practice, and they abstain from discussing the details of the Bill until its principle be altered.
5. Your Committee find that the Bill is drawn up in accordance with an Ordinance passed in Ceylon so long ago as 1863, and although the Staff of Roman Catholic Clergy in that Colony is far larger than in Hongkong, no public complaints have been made leading us to believe that the measure is not successful in its operation, or objectionable to all those whom it concerns. Further, the prin- ciple of the Bill is recognized in so-called Roman Catholic countries, such as France and Belgium, where obligations in relation to Marriages similar to those found in the proposed Ordinance are in force, and this Legislature has therefore many important precedents by which to guide itself in accepting the Bill as brought forward by the Government after receiving the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
6. Your Committee, upon consideration of the whole facts, respectfully recommend that no alteration of the principles of the Bill be entertained, and that, as amended, it be passed by the Council.
lid munistrator
Enclosure No 2 in J. Gardiner Auchin's Despatch 7234 4 of 18 Aprel 1895-
Council Chamber, 6th April, 1875.
CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH, JOHN BRAMSTON.
W. H. ALEXANDER, JAMES WRITTALL. HENRY LOWCOCK.
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