Land-Office-and-Marriage-Registry-Annual-report--1947-1948 — Page 12

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PART II-MARRIAGE REGISTRY.

Marriages.

1. The number of marriages celebrated in the Colony during the year (1.4.47-31.3.48) was 2,864 (of which 2,626 were between Chinese persons) as compared with 860 (and 658) respectively in 1946--an increase of 2,004. It is considered that much of this increase is due to a wider recognition on the part of the Chinese community of the advantages afforded by civil marriage under the Marriage Ordinance 1875 of the Colony although some was caused by certain immigration provisions of the American authorities. Particulars are given in Table I infra.

Fees.

2. The total amount of Fees received under the second schedule of the Marriage Ordinance 1875, was $29,537.00 as compared with $9,691.00 in 1946-an increase of $19,846.00. Particulars are shown in Table II. The increase is mainly accounted for by the greater number of marriages solemnised at the office of the Registrar, and only to a slight extent to the moderate increases of special licence fees.

3. The number of marriages solemnised and the total amount of fees collected each year during the ten years (1932-1939 and 1946-1947) are shewn in Table III.

Registry.

4. The Registry itself which has for many years been housed in the Land Office was transferred to separate office accommodation on the southern side of the Supreme Court.

TABLE I

(1) Marriages by SPECIAL LICENCE, 1.

(a) At Licensed Places of

Public Worship.

(b) At the Office of the

Registrar of Marriages.

1.

Nil.

(2) Marriages by REGISTRAR'S CERTIFICATE, 2863.

(a) At Licensed Places of

Public Worship.

305.

(b) At the Office of the Registrar of Marriages.

2,558.