CO129-247 - Acting Governor Fleming Governor Des Voeus - 1890 [10-12] — Page 247

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

The experience of several years proves that there are plenty of disadvantages from the present Ordinance, while the few advantages could be obtained without it. The present Ordinance was quite unnecessary, and for thirty years we had all marriages performed in the Catholic Church valid before the Law, and not the least complaint has been made. The information desired for the Marriage registration could have been obtained from the Clergy, who never refused them.

With regard to ascertaining any impediment, there was a better means than the Registrar to discover them. It is a fact that these people of the East will go more easily to the Clergy to tell the impediment than to the Registrar. Moreover, while our banns in the Church are heard by the whole congregation, very few care to see the names of those who want to get married at the Court door.

So much for the advantages; there are many disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that the Ordinance does not provide for cases in articulo mortis, a very important matter. Some have to get married or refuse to get married to avoid paying the obligatory fees being published at the Court door, the fees being enforced by the Roman Catholic Church in Hongkong.

3. A more severe disadvantage comes from the interfering of the Ordinance with the full exercise of the Sacrament by the Catholic Clergy.

Page 246

Edit History

2026-05-26 12:04:11 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
The experience of several years proves that there are plenty of disadvantages from the present Ordinance, while the few advantages could be obtained without it. The present Ordinance was quite unnecessary, and for thirty years we had all marriages performed in the Catholic Church valid before the Law, and not the least complaint has been made. The information desired for the Marriage registration could have been obtained from the Clergy, who never refused them. With regard to ascertaining any impediment, there was a better means than the Registrar to discover them. It is a fact that these people of the East will go more easily to the Clergy to tell the impediment than to the Registrar. Moreover, while our banns in the Church are heard by the whole congregation, very few care to see the names of those who want to get married at the Court door. So much for the advantages; there are many disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is that the Ordinance does not provide for cases in articulo mortis, a very important matter. Some have to get married or refuse to get married to avoid paying the obligatory fees being published at the Court door, the fees being enforced by the Roman Catholic Church in Hongkong. 3. A more severe disadvantage comes from the interfering of the Ordinance with the full exercise of the Sacrament by the Catholic Clergy. Page 246
Baseline (Original)
The experience of several years proves that plenty disadvantages from the present Ordinance, cove while the few advantages could the obfancied without it. The present Erduviance a aganws which we~ protected when it has been anforced. was quite for. uncalled unecessary, ethanthirty years we more than th rriages performed in had all marri the Catholic Church valid before. the Law, and not the least complaint wh of has been made. The informations were desired for the Marriage requstionon could have been obsanied from the Clergy, who never refused them.. With re regard wheth, there was better. to ascertaining any inpediment means than the Registrar to discover them. If is a fact that these people of the East will go mare easily to the Clergy to 246 to tell the wipediment than to the Registrar. Moreover while our kanns in the Church are heard by the whole. congregation, very few care to to see the names of those who want to get marrica at the Court door. So much for the advantages; with are many. regard! A. @ to the disad isadvantages, they he Ordinance does not provide for cases un articulo morts . A مجھے very important matter. Sove to get get Jo to Canton or Macao married or refuse to get married to avoid to pay and their MAČ at the Court door the fees being published! obligatory fees 200 benig inforced by the Roman Catholic Church in Hongkong. 3. A more severe disadvantage comes from the interfering of the Ordinance with the full exercive. of the Sacrament by the Catholic Clergy
2026-05-26 12:04:11 · Baseline
View content

The experience of several

years proves that plenty disadvantages

from the present Ordinance,

cove

while the few advantages could the obfancied without it. The present

Erduviance a

aganws

which we~

protected when it has been anforced.

was quite

for.

uncalled

unecessary, ethanthirty years we

more than th

rriages performed in

had all marri

the Catholic Church valid before.

the Law, and not the least complaint

wh of

has been made. The informations

were desired for the Marriage requstionon could have been

obsanied from the Clergy, who never refused them..

With re

regard

wheth, there was

better.

to ascertaining any inpediment

means than the

Registrar to discover them. If is a

fact that these people of the East

will go

mare

easily to the Clergy

to

246

to tell the wipediment than to the

Registrar. Moreover while our kanns

in the Church are heard

by

the whole.

congregation, very few care to

to see the names of those who want

to get

marrica at the Court door.

So much for the advantages;

with

are many.

regard!

A.

@

to the disad

isadvantages, they

he Ordinance does not

provide for cases un articulo morts

. A

مجھے

very important matter.

Sove

to get

get

Jo

to Canton or Macao

married or refuse to get

married to avoid to pay

and their

MAČ

at the Court door

the

fees

being published!

obligatory fees

200

benig

inforced by the Roman Catholic Church in Hongkong.

3.

A more severe disadvantage comes from the interfering of the Ordinance with the full exercive. of the Sacrament by the Catholic

Clergy

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.