Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1965-1966 — Page 50

evidence of the marriage. During 1965-66, 1,307 marriages took place between parties already married by customary ceremonies of one kind or another. Forty-five of these remarriages were performed at licensed places of worship, the remainder at the Registries. The total of 1,307 was 112 more than that for 1964-65.

144. Of the 15,533 marriages registered, 15,228 were between parties of Chinese race; 105 marriages were between non-Chinese grooms and Chinese brides, and 24 between Chinese grooms and non-Chinese brides; the remaining 176 were between parties both of whom were non-Chinese. 139 widowers and 50 widows remarried. 292 of the parties married were divorced persons, and in accordance with the normal practice of the Registry the divorce documents were carefully scrutinized before the marriage was permitted to take place.

145. In 28 cases the Registrar in the exercise of the discretion con- ferred on him by the proviso to Section 9 of the Ordinance issued his certificate allowing the marriage to proceed before the expiry of the prescribed fifteen days' notice.

Work done and Fees collected

146. Table XXVIII gives particulars of work done during the year and of the fees charged therefor, which totalled $188,219. This was $32,557 more than the 1964-65 figure and constituted a new record.

PART IX

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY

General

147. The registration of births and deaths is compulsory under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance. The General Register Office is situated at Li Po Chun Chambers, 92-97 Connaught Road Central, and there are ten District Registries on Hong Kong Island, and six in Kowloon and New Kowloon. In the New Territories there are full-time Birth Registries at Tai Po, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long, and also 'part- time' Registries at various Rural Committee Offices which District Registrars visit according to a regular programme. Deaths in the New Territories are reported to local police stations. In addition to the above, three mobile teams operate in the New Territories dealing with applica- tions for post-registration of births. Table XXIX shows the present organization of the Registry.

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