M 196
# APPENDIX H.
# REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS & DEATHS.
The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance of 1896, which up till 1911 applied only to the Colony Proper, was in the latter year extended to cover the New Territories. Though applicable to the New Territories for 20 years, it had not been enforced, and the number of registrations both of births and of deaths forms such a small proportion of the whole that in calculating birth rates and death rates for the Colony, the figures from the New Territories were ignored.
On the 1st of January 1932, the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services became Registrar of Births and Deaths, taking over those duties from the Head of the Sanitary Department, who up till then had been responsible for registration.
The machinery for the registration of births and deaths in Hong Kong is somewhat complicated and must be studied to be understood. There is a Registrar, and a number of Deputy Registrars. There is a general Registry Office at Medical Headquarters in Victoria. There are a number of District Registry Offices for the registration of Chinese deaths and a separate set of District Registry Offices for the registration of Chinese births. In the New Territories, there are District Registrar Offices for Chinese births and deaths.
Chinese can register births and deaths in the districts in which they are living, but non-Chinese, whether in the New Territories, Kowloon, or on the island of Hong Kong, are obliged to register at the General Registry Office in Victoria.
Why there should be this distinction with regard to race is not clear, and it is hoped to bring about a change in the law whereby all will be treated alike.
Death registration in the Colony Proper, being a necessary preliminary to a permit to bury, it may be taken for granted that practically all deaths are registered. Most deaths in the New Territories were not registered.
Before registering, the Registrar or Assistant Registrar must be satisfied that the cause of death given is the true cause, and in case of doubt, it is his duty to institute or cause to be instituted immediate enquiries with a view to ascertaining the true cause of death.
The authorities certifying the cause of death are:-
(a) the medical practitioners in attendance during the last illness, whether in hospital practice, dispensary practice, or private practice.
'M 196
APPENDIX H.
REPORT OF THE REGISTRAR OF BIRTHS & DEATHS.
The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance of 1896, which up till 1911 applied only to the Colony Proper, was in the latter year extended to cover the New Territories. Though applicable to the New Territories for 20 years it had not been enforced and the number of registrations both of births and of deaths forms such a small proportion of the whole that in calculating birth rates and death rates for the Colony the figures from the New Territories were ignored.
On the 1st of January 1932 the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services became Registrar of Births and Deaths taking over those duties from the Head of the Sanitary Department who up till then had been responsible for registration.
The machinery for the registration of births and deaths in Hong Kong is somewhat complicated and must be studied to he understood. There is a Registrar, and a number of Deputy Registrars. There is a general Registry Offices at Medical Headquarters in Victoria. There are a number of District Registry Offices for the registration of Chinese deaths and a separate set of District Registry Offices for the registration of Chinese births. In the New Territories there are District Registrar Offices for Chinese births and deaths.
Chinese can register births and deaths in the districts in which they are living but non-Chinese whether in the New Territories, Kowloon, or on the island of Hong Kong, are obliged to register at the General Registry Office in Victoria.
Why there should be this distinction with regard to race is not clear and it is hoped to bring about a change in the law whereby all will be treated alike.
Death registration in the Colony Proper being a necessary preliminary to a permit to bury it may be taken for granted that practically all deaths are registered. Most deaths in the New Territories were not registered.
Before registering the Registrar or Assistant Registrar must be satisfied that the cause of death given is the true cause and in case of doubt it is his duty to institute or cause to be instituted immediate enquiries with a view to ascertaining the true cause of death.
The authorities certifying the cause of death are:-
(a) the medical practitioners in attendance during the last illness whether in hospital practice, dispensary practice or private practice.
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