1964_MAINTENANCE_ORDERS_(RECIPROCAL_ENFORCEMENT)_ORDINANCE — Page 17

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CAP. 188]

Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement)

[1981 Ed.

Absence of respondent. 1972 c. 18, s. 1707).

Power to make rules.

1972 c. 18. s. 18(1).

(4) For the purposes of this section a written certificate pur- porting to be signed by an officer of any bank in Hong Kong certifying that a specified rate of exchange prevailed between curren- cies at a specified date and that at such rate a specified sum in the currency of Hong Kong is equivalent to a specified sum in another specified currency shall be evidence of the rate of exchange so prevailing on that date and of the equivalent sums in terms of the respective currencies.

(5) In this section "the relevant date" means——

(a) in relation to a registered order or to a statement of arrears due under a maintenance order made by a court in a reciprocating country, the date on which the order first becomes a registered order or (if earlier) the date on which it is confirmed by the District Court;

(b) in relation to a registered order which has been varied, the date on which the last order varying that order is registered in the District Court or (if earlier) the date on which the last order varying that order is confirmed by the District Court.

18. Where the respondent to an application for the variation or revocation-

(a) of a maintenance order made by a court in Hong Kong, being an order to which section 6 applies; or {Amended,

61 of 1981, s. 6)

(b) of a registered order,

does not appear at the time and place appointed for the hearing of the application, but the court is satisfied that the respondent is residing in a reciprocating country, the court may proceed to hear and determine the application at the time and place appointed for the hearing or for any adjourned hearing in like manner as if the respondent had appeared at that time and place.

19. The Chief Justice may make rules for the better carrying out of the purposes and provisions of this Ordinance and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, may make rules providing for all or any of the following matters-

(a) the orders made, or other things done, by a court in Hong Kong, or the Registrar, under this Ordinance, or by a court in a reciprocating country, notice of which is to be given to such person as the rules may provide and the manner in which notice shall be given;

(b) the cases and manner in which courts in reciprocating countries are to be informed of orders made, or other things done, by a court in Hong Kong under this Ordin-

ance;