693838-1875-Bill-read-first-time-Marriage-Register- — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13TH MARCH, 1875.

An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to provide a general Register of Marriages cele- brated in Hongkong.

[

?

1875.]

WHEREAS it is expedient that marriages celebrated in the

Colony of Hongkong should be systematically recorded in one general register: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hong- kong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

Title.

Preamble.

I. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as "The Short title. Marriage Ordinance, 1875.”

thereof to be

II. Every minister of religion or other person who has in Existing regis- his custody any register or other official record of marriages ters or copies heretofore celebrated in this Colony shall, within three months delivered to after this Ordinance takes effect, deliver to the Registrar General the Registrar the said register or official record, or a copy thereof.

III. Every person delivering a copy shall append thereto a Copies to be certificate in the following form:-

I, A.B., &c.,

do certify that the above

written pages are a true copy of the register (or official record) of marriages heretofore celebrated in St. John's Cathedral (or as the case may be) and that the original is in my custody.

day of

Dated the

187

(Signed,) A. B.

General.

certified.

IV. The Governor may defray, from the public revenue of the Expenses may Colony, all proper expenses connected with the delivery of the be defrayed from public said registers or official records, or of making and delivering revenue. copies thereof.

deputies.

V. The Registrar General shall be Registrar of Marriages, and Registrar of to assist him, the Governor may appoint one or more Deputy marriages and Registrars, and such deputies may celebrate marriages, and may exercise all the other powers, and perform all the duties confer- red upon the Registrar General by this Ordinance, and all acts done by a deputy shall be as valid as if done by the Registrar

General.

VI. The Governor may license any place of public worship to The Governor be a place for the celebration of marriages, and may, at any time, may license cancel any such licence.

places of worship. VII. Whenever the Governor grants or cancels any such Licences to be licence, the Registrar General shall give public notice thereof in gazetted. the Government Gazette.

Preliminaries to marriage.

VIII. Whenever, after this Ordinance takes effect, any persons Notice of in- desire to marry, one of the parties to the intended marriage shall tended marri- give notice thereof to the Registrar General in the following age.

form:-

NOTICE OF MARRIAGE.

To the Registrar General of Hongkong.

I hereby give you notice that a marriage is intended to be had, within three months from the date hereof, between me and the other party herein named.

Name.

Condition.

Rank

or Age. Profession.

Dwelling Place.

Consent, if any, by whom given.

Name of Bridegroom,

Bachelor

⚫or

Widower,

Name of

Spinster

or

Bride,

Widow,

Witness my hand this

day of

187

(Signature of party giving the notice.) Every such notice shall be signed by the party giving notice.

IX. The Registrar General shall file every such notice in his Notices to be office; he shall expose one copy of such notice in a conspicuous filed and place open to the public, and keep it so exposed until he issue a copies made by

the Registrar certificate as hereinafter mentioned, or until the three months General. expire; he shall also enter a copy of the said notice with a date of such entry in a book to be called the Marriage Notice Book, and shall allow any person to inspect such book during office hours without fee.

X. The Registrar General shall supply forms of notice gra- Forms of tuitously to persons applying for the same.

notice to be

supplied gratis.

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