TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1984
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MORE WEDDINGS AT MARRIAGE REGISTRIES
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DUE TO POPULATION GROWTH AND THE LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE OF MARRIAGEABLE AGES, THE NUMBER OF WEDDINGS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN INCREASING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
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IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 33 384 WEDDINGS WERE HELD AT THE 11 MARRIAGE REGISTRIES ADMINISTERED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.
REFLECTING THE POPULARITY OF THESE REGISTRIES, WHICH OFFER WELL-FURNISHED FACILITIES, THE NUMBER REPRESENTED 95 PER CENT OF THE WEDDINGS RECORDED IN HONG KONG FOR THE PERIOD. THE OTHER FIVE PER CENT ARE CHURCH WEDDINGS.
+NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY BUSY MONTHS FOR US AS MANY CHINESE OBSERVE THE TRADITIONAL CUSTOM OF GETTING MARRIED SHORTLY BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER, MRS JEAN AU-YEUNG SAID.
+DUE TO ITS CENTRAL LOCATION, THE MOST POPULAR REGISTRY IS THE CITY HALL WHERE 7 213 WEDDINGS, OR 23 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL TOOK PLACE IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF LAST YEAR, AVERAGING TO MORE THAN 22 MARRIAGES A DAY, SHE SAID.
AS A RESULT, THE CITY HALL MARRIAGE REGISTRY, WHICH ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES ON WEEKENDS AND SUNDAYS, IS OFTEN STRETCHED TO ITS LIMITS, PARTICULARLY ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND AUSPICIOUS DAYS.
UNDER THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE, A COUPLE PROPOSING TO GET MARRIED MUST GIVE 15 DAYS' NOTICE, WHICH IS VALID FOR THREE MONTHS.
BESIDES THE 11 MARRIAGE REGISTRIES, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ALSO OPERATES A +MOBILE+ REGISTRATION UNIT TO SERVICE REMOTE AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ONCE A WEEK, THE UNIT OPERATES IN THE RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICES IN SAI KÚNG, CHEUNG CHAU, TAI O AND SHA TIN FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF RURAL RESIDENTS WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME TO TRAVEL TO URBAN CENTRES FOR THEIR MARRIAGE REGISTRATION.
+THE SITUATION IN THE CITY HALL HAS IMPROVED SOMEWHAT FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LATEST MARRIAGE REGISTRY AT COTTON TREE DRIVE, WITHIN 10 MINUTES' WALK FROM THE CITY HALL,+ MRS AU-YEUNG SAID.
LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF ROWLINGTON HOUSE OPPOSITE MURRAY BUILDING, THE REGISTRY HAS ALL THE MODERN FACILITIES, INCLUDING A SPACIOUS, FULLY CARPETED WEDDING HALL WITH CHANDELIERS, AND A MAKE-UP ANTECHAMBER FOR THE BRIDE.
+THE HALL OPENS ONTO A FLOWER-BEDECKED GARDEN WITH A SUGAR PALM TREE. THE TREE, ASSOCIATED BY THE CHINESE WITH ETERNAL LOVE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POPULAR BACKDROP FOR WEDDING PICTURES,+ MRS AU-YEUNG EXPLAINED,
/DESPITE ITS
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