Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1959-1960 — Page 24

1959. In fact, so many applications were received that Government authorized two additional mobile teams, one of which was in process of formation at the end of the year. There were then 4,477 applications outstanding, and it is known that many more would have been made but for the fact that the original team was already booked up from six months to two years ahead according to the particular district. During the year the original team dealt with 2,327 cases.

Re-registration of Births and Deaths

61. The Births Registration (Special Registers) Ordinance (Cap. 175), and the Deaths Registration (Special Registers) Ordinance (Cap. 176), provide for the re-registration of births and deaths recorded in registers destroyed or lost during the Japanese occupation. 271 births and one death were registered during the year. Altogether 4,423 births and 63 deaths have now been registered under these two Ordinances.

Prosecutions

62. As a result of information given to the Police by the Registry sixteen prosecutions were undertaken mostly in respect of false declara- tions made in relation to births. Fourteen of the accused were convicted, and fines up to $2,000 were imposed with alternative sentences of imprisonment of up to seven months.

Adoptions

63. An Adopted Children Register is maintained at the General Register Office under the Adoption Ordinance, 1956. During the year 105 adoptions were registered, bringing to 232 the total number of adoptions registered since the first entry was made on 22nd July, 1957. Table XIX shows the relationship of adopters to children adopted under the Adoption Ordinance during 1957 to 1959, distinguishing sex and age.

Vital Statistics

64. The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the compila- tion of vital statistics for the Colony. The Hollerith system is used for compiling statistics of mortality, and information is recorded by means of punched cards, covering the age, sex, marital status, nationality, occupation, place of death of the deceased, and also the cause of death, whether the body was sent to a mortuary, and the registration number of the attending doctor. Close liaison with the Medical and Health Department and the Statistical Office of the Commerce and Industry Department is maintained in relation to these statistics.

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