Explanatory
PART III
MARRIAGE REGISTRY
17. All marriages, except non-Christian customary marriages, are governed by the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181). Under this, after a notice of intended marriage has been exhibited at the Registry for fifteen clear days, the Registrar issues a certificate which enables the marriage to be celebrated at a licensed place of worship, or contracted as a civil marriage before the Registrar. The Governor may grant a licence authorizing a marriage to take place before the expiry of the fifteen-day period, or a special licence dis- pensing with notice altogether.
18. There are two Registries at which notices of marriage may be given and civil marriages performed, namely the principal Registry in the Supreme Court Building in Hong Kong, and the Kowloon Sub- Registry, which is located on the third floor of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Building, 664, Nathan Road, Mong Kok.
Marriages Registered and Performed
19. The total number of marriages performed advanced by 488 over the previous year's total to the new high record figure of 7,954, which included 7,661 marriages between Chinese parties. 7,134 of the marriages were civil marriages, 3,521 taking place in the principal Registry and 3,613 in the Kowloon Sub-Registry, which has thus in the third year of its existence overtaken the principal Registry in the number of ceremonies performed. The remaining 820 marriages were celebrated in licensed places of worship of various denominations. To help the regular Assistant Registrars in coping with the increased numbers of marriages being performed, Mr. James Sze, Land Office Assistant, and Mr. K. S. Chan, Executive Officer Class I, were appointed to act as Deputy Registrars of Marriages in addition to their normal duties on 31st October, 1958, and 19th December, 1958, respectively.
Fees
20. The fees collected totalled $94,687, $5,033 more than the previous year's figure. Particulars are given in Table VI.
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