XN000022-1973-04-19 — Page 2

Thursday, April 19, 1973

NEW REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR MINORS UNDERWAY

Age Of First Registration To Be Raised From Six To Eleven Years

The juvenile registration system is to be revised under amending

legislation which will shortly be introduced.

Published in today's Gazette for general information is the Registration

of Persons (Amendment) Bill 1973 which seeks to lower from 17 to 11 the

age at which a person must use his registered name in dealings with the

Government.

The Bill also aims at widening the powers of the Governor-in-Council

to make regulations in connection with the principal Ordinance.

Commenting on the proposed changes, the Commissioner for Registration,

Mr. J.V.G. Mitchell, said that, in effect, the age of registering for

juvenile identity cards would be raised from six to 11 years.

At the same time, he added, it was intended to change the present

form of the existing juvenile identity cards so that it would include the

holder's photograph, full personal name in English and Chinese, date and

place of birth and nationality.

The new form would be based on that of the adult identity card

which is also to be modified by discontinuing the present practice of having

the holder's thumbprint imposed on it.

Mr. Mitchell said it was also intended to raise the age of re-registering

for adult identity cards from 17 to 18 years.

The planned new juvenile identity cards, he said, would bear the

date on which it was to be exchanged for an adult card.

/Both the