XN000022-1996-11-22 — Page 21

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Amendments relating to the age of majority:

The definitions of "child" and "infant" in the Domestic Violence Ordinance and the Adoption Ordinance are to be amended to reflect the reduction of the age of majority from 21 to 18 in 1990. Furthermore, a distinction between male and female "infants" in a provision in the Adoption Ordinance will be removed.

Consent to marriage:

A section of the Marriage Ordinance which allows the father to give consent to the marriage of a child under 21 years of age, but the mother only if the father is dead or insane will be amended to place either parent in the same position.

Amendments to the Post Office Ordinance:

The Post Office Ordinance and regulations under it will be amended to replace the 'On Her Majesty's Service" mark on government envelopes with "On Government Service" to ensure that government mail bearing this new mark will enjoy the same protection and privileges.

Taxation of foreign lawyers' bills of costs:

Provision under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance for the "taxation" of a solicitor's bill, that is for an application to be made to the court for the court to determine what the appropriate charge should be, will be amended to cover foreign lawyers' bills.

References to ex officio and official members of the Legislative Council:

References to 'official' and 'ex officio' members of the Legislative Council that still appear in the Legislative Council Commission Ordinance, the Po Leung Kuk Ordinance and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Ordinance will be removed.

Certain registers to be kept in non-legible form:

The Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance and the Marriage Ordinance will be amended to legalise the storage of marriage records by microfilming, and the storage of births and deaths records in both microfilm and computerised forms.

Maintenance of illegitimate children:

The Affiliation Proceedings Ordinance will be repealed. Its provisions will be covered by the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance which requires some amendment to achieve that purpose.