status of the children, as the Sub-Committee recommended should be done with purported concubinary alliances occurring after the Appointed Date: see above para. 21. In any event, the abolition of kim-tiu marriages must be an essential of any comprehensive reform.
55. As to the abolition itself, in the Report it is simply said that such marriages could not arise lawfully after the Appointed Date. Presumably, however, they would be recognized in conformity with the definition of Chinese Customary Marriage, and under the rules advocated by the Sub-Committee they would as such be Post-Registrable. It might be preferable, nonetheless, that there should be express legislation to cover the case of kim-tiu. Kim-tiu wives would not be within the scope of the expression "concubines" for any purpose (unless so defined) and it would be conducive to proper understanding of the issues in debate before legislation is passed, as well as to understanding of the law itself after enactment if the matter of kim-tiu marriage were dealt with expressis verbis.
"NEW RECOMMENDATION NO. 6: ON VOLUNTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PATERNITY
Intention:
To make provision for the father of a child born out of lawful wedlock to bind himself voluntarily to accept the responsibilities of paternity without having recourse to the
courts.
Recommendation:
Legislation to be enacted whereby a man may be enabled, if he so wishes, to declare by Will or by a simple written declaration before a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Solicitor, or any Public Officer designated for that purpose by the Governor, his intention to be responsible for the maintenance of any child of whom he admits fatherhood;
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