CO129-594-7 Proposed legislation to regularise registration of births- marriages and deaths in Stanley internment camp during... 16-10-1945 - 19-12-1946 — Page 44

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was desirable that this opinion should be divulged

to as few people as possible.

2.

The question of the validity of decrees absolute

of divorce made in the Internment Camp has now been

raised by Messrs. Maddin and Company, a copy of whose

letter of the 2nd May I attach for your information.

In this connection it was pointed out by the late

Colonial Secretary, Mr. Gimson, in a letter (a copy

of which was sent under cover of a savingram numbered 2 and dated the 8th January, 1946, to the Chief Civil Affairs Officer) that cases had occurred of marriages

which had been performed in the Camp in the belief

that a decree absolute had been made and later it had

been found that this was not the case. You will no doubt

ensure therefore that any proposed legislation will not

have the effect of validating any marriage,performed

in the Camp unless such marriage would have been valid if performed in accordance with the procedure required

by the Marriage Ordinance.

3.

A copy of the reply that has been sent to Messrs. Maddin

is also attached from which you will note that it is stated

that enquiries are being made and a further letter will

be sent to them in due course.

4. Since