694738-1875-Bill-read-first-time-Marriage-Register- — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 4TH SEPTEMBER, 1875.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

359

The following Bill, which was read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held this day, is published for general information.

By Command,

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 2nd September, 1875.

H. ERNEST WODEHOUSE, Clerk of Councils.

An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, Title.

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

WE

1875.]

THEREAS it is expedient that marriages celebrated in the Preamble.

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:-

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 his Existing regis- custody any register or other official record of marriages heretofore ters or copies celebrated in the Colony may, within three months after this delivered to Ordinance takes effect, deliver to the Registrar General the said the Registrar register or official record, or a copy thereof, omitting, if desired, any General. matters of a private or confidential nature.

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

I, A.B., &c.,

do certify that the above written

pages are a true copy (excepting only matters of a private or confidential nature) of the register [or official record] of marriages heretofore celebrated in St. John's Cathedral Church [or as the case may be] and that the original is in my custody.

day of

Dated the

187 (Signed,) A. B.

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 said registers or official records, or of making and delivering copies thereof.

from public

revenue.

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

deputies. exercise all the other powers, and perform all the duties conferred 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.

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Name.

Condition.

Rank

or Age. Profession.

Consent,

Dwelling Place.

if any, by whom given.

Name. of Bridegroom,

Bachelor

or

Widower,

Name of Bride,

Spinster

Or

Widow,

Witness

my

hand this

187

day of (Signature of party giving the notice.)

Every such notice shall be signed by the party giving notice.