TNAG-0354-FCO40-390-Legislation-for-immigration-and-deportation-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 41

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Friday, July 14, 1972

NEW EVIDENTIAL VALUE FOR POST-REGISTERED BIRTHS AND DEATHS

**********

Entries in the post register of births and dealths in Hong Kong,

made after December 31, 1971, will be given greater evidential value under

a bill to be introduced into the Legislative Council.

Under the proposed bill- the Births and Deaths Registration

(Amendment) Bill 1972. such entries will be accepted as evidence of the

birth or death without further proof. An entry in a post register book

made before January 1, 1972 must still be supported by further evidence

of the event to which it relates.

A new procedure was introduced on January 1, this year for

dealing with post registration in some cases, and it is considered that

the change in procedure justifies eliminating the difference in evidential

value between an entry in a normal register and one in a post register.

the Perjury (Amendment) Bill 1972 - will be

Another bill

K

introduced into the Legislative Council together with the Births and Deaths

Registration (Amendment) Bill.

It seeks to abolish the time limit within which a prosecution may

be brought against a person giving false evidence or information in matters

connected with births and deaths.

Under the present Perjury Ordinance, proceedings cannot be instituted

after three years have elapsed from the time the offence was committed.

However, in most cases the falsity of statements and information is not

discovered until well after the expiry of the time limit.

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