FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1979
2
I
BILLS TO IMPROVE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS SYSTEM
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AMENDING LEGISLATION IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS SYSTEM AND TO IMPOSE HEAVIER PENALTIES ON THOSE WHO FAIL TO REGISTER UNDER THE LAW.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) (NO, 2) BILL 1979 AND THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ONE MAIN CHANGE PROPOSED IS THAT IN HIS DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, A PERSON WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE THE NAME WHICH APPEARS ON HIS IDENTITY CARD.
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COMMENTING ON THIS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID AT PRESENT, A RESIDENT MIGHT USE DIFFERENT NAMES IN RECORDS HELD IN DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
+THIS LEADS TO CONFUSION AND DUPLICATION OF RECORDS, HE SAID. +IT CAN ALSO CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PERSON HIMSELF WHEN HE SEEKS TO OBTAIN A SERVICE FROM A PARTICULAR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRESENT SYSTEM WAS NOT ONLY CONFUSING BUT ALSO OPEN TO ABUSE.
UNDER THE PROPOSED CHANGES, ONCE A CHILD BORN IN HONG KONG REACHES 11 YEARS OF AGE, HIS PARENTS WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO CHANGE HIS GIVEN NAMES IN THE REGISTER OF BIRTHS.
PARENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF MAKING A SUITABLE CHOICE OF NAMES OF THEIR CHILDREN BEFORE THEY REACH THE AGE OF 11.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THE PROPOSALS WOULD NOT MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO USE MORE THAN ONE NAME. HOWEVER, IN HIS DEALINGS WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE IS REQUIRED TO USE THE NAME WHICH APPEARS ON HIS IDENTITY CARD.
+IT WOULD STILL BE POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO CHANGE HIS NAME BY DEED POLL OR TO SHOW THAT HE IS KNOWN BY SOME OTHER NAME BY COMMON REPUTE AND USAGE, HE SAID. IN EITHER CASE, AN IDENTITY CARD WOULD BE ISSUED IN HIS NEW NAME.+
ANOTHER CHANGE PROPOSED IS THAT ALL RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED IN LAW, ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.
THIS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE OBLIGATION TO REGISTER UNDER THE LAW APPLIES TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE BORN IN HONG KONG, THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY RESIDENTS HERE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ENTER HONG KONG WITH THE INTENTION TO RESIDE HERE.
PENALTIES ARE TO BE INCREASED FOR EVASION OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND THE TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTION WILL BE EXTENDED FROM TWO YEARS TO THREE YEARS.
THE SPOKESMAN