TNAG-0874-FCO40-1084-Legislation-for-births--deaths-and-adoption-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 102

G.S. 84

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Staffing and Financial Implications

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XCR (79) 105

The Births, Deaths and Marriage Registries are self- contained, and the transfer of responsibilities will not require significant changes in staffing or finance. A limited number of new posts will be needed in the Immigration Department, but these will be offset against an equivalent number of posts on identical or similar salary scales in the Registrar General's Department. The change will inevitably add to the responsibilities of the Immigration Department, at a time when it is under severe pressure. However a considerable amount of preparatory work has already been done which will enable the Immigration Depart- ment to absorb these Registries without undue strain and so the Director considers that the plan for the transfer should nevertheless go ahead.

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Publicity

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The concept of comprehensive personal documentation services being managed by a single Government department could cause some public concern, and any such feeling of disquiet might best be dispelled by adequate advance publicity emphasising the logic of the change. This will be arranged. The publicity should also give due reassurance that the atmosphere and dignity of the marriage registries in particular will not be affected in any way by the transfer, and that the registries generally will continue to operate, at least so far as the public is concerned, as entitles separate from the parent department.

Advice Sought

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Honourable Members will be asked to advise whether the Registration of Births, Deaths and Adoption (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 1979 should be introduced into the Legislative Council.

(The Registrar General (Mr P. JACOBS), the Director of Immigration (Mr R. G.B. BRIDGE) and Crown Counsel (Mr L. C. McCORMACK) will attend before the Council for the discussion of this item).

27th April 1979 (COU 1/3351/76)

COUNCIL CHAMBER

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