ORDINANCE No. 1 OF 1852 . 259
Marriage.
7. Any person authorized in that behalf may forbid the issue of the Marriage How issue of
certificate may
Registrar's certificate by writing at any time before the issue of such certificate the be forbidden.
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 References by
the Registrar in
person forbidding the issue of the certificate is authorized by law so to do, the said cases ofdoubt.
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 After issue of
certificate, mar
solemnized between and by the parties described in such certificate or certificates riage may be
solemnized in
the presence of
according to such form and ceremony as they may see fit to adopt. Provided never Marriage Regis
trar and two
theless that such marriage shall be solemnized between the hours of six in the morn witnesses at
prescribed hours,
ing and seven in the evening in the presence of the Marriage Registrar, to whom according to cer
emonies the par
shall be delivered such certificate or certificates as aforesaid and of two or more ties may adopt.
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 Places where
ceremony is to
worship, or at the office of the said Registrar, unless in such cases where the Governor be solemnized.
of the said Colony shall by special licence for that purpose authorize such solemniza
tion to be had at some other place.
11. When a marriage is not solemnized within three calendar months after the When the mar
riage is not sol
notice shall have been so entered by the Marriage Registrar, the notice and certificate emnized within
three months
which may have been issued thereupon and all other proceedings thereupon shall be after notice, new
notice required.
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.