TNAG-0874-FCO40-1084-Legislation-for-births--deaths-and-adoption-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 100

G.S. 84

For discussion

on 8th May 1979

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XCR(79)105 23 Copy No :

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNTKK 223/2 REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHSAVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 ADOPTION (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL Χi§Y 1979

DESK OFFICER #NDEX

PA

Annexed for consideration by Honourable Members the Registration of Births, Deaths and Adoption (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1979, which seeks to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, Chapter 174, so as to enable the Governor to appoint any public officer to be Registrar of Births and Deaths. The purpose is to provide for the transfer of respon- sibility for Births, Deaths and Marriage Registration from the Registrar General's Department to the Immigration Department (Registration of Persons Office); the Marriage Ordinance

REGATRY

Agjen Tarten

(Chapter 181) does not require amendment since it already contains a provision similar to that now proposed for the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance.

Background

2

The Registrar General's responsibilities for the Births, Deaths and Marriage Registries were assumed piece-meal and more as a matter of administrative expediency than as a planned and logical development of his office. When the office of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs (at one time known as the Registrar General) was moved in 1926, it was decided that the Secretary's responsi- bility for the Marriage Registry, which was then located in the Supreme Court, should be passed to the Land Officer, whose office was in the same place.

3

The Registrar General's Department in its present form came into existence in 1949 when the Registrar General (Establishment) Ordinance (Chapter 100) was enacted. At that time it was decided that the then Land Officer should, in addition to his existing functions, perform the duties conferred or imposed upon the holder of a number of specified offices including the Registrar of Companies, the Registrar of Trade Marks, the Registrar of Patents, the Registrar of Marriages, the Official Receiver in Bankruptcy, the Official Solicitor in Lunacy (added in 1953) and the Official Trustee.

4

4

In 1957 the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance was amended so as to effect the transfer of responsibility for the registration of births and deaths from the Medical Department,

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