Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1967-1968 — Page 51

the Registry in the Liu Chong Hing Bank Building, Mong Kok, was transferred to the new Government Post Office Building in Yau Ma Tei on 17th October 1967. These registries provide better accommoda- tion and greatly improved facilities for the public, including specially furnished marriage rooms and powder rooms. One novel feature of these new registries is the introduction of desk height counters in the General Office, where members of the public can be comfortably seated opposite the office staff to transact their business, whether it is a lengthy interview or only a brief enquiry. The opening of the new Kowloon Marriage Registry was marked by a brief ceremony at which Mrs. W. K. THOMSON, wife of the Registrar General, cut the tape and after which the Registrar General himself performed the first marriage ceremony. The opening was attended by members of the local Kai Fong Associations and officials from related public institutions and Government Departments, who also took part in a tea reception that immediately followed.

144. Under Section 21(4)(b) of the Ordinance, where the Deputy Registrar is satisfied that he and the parties and witnesses all under- stand the Chinese language or the same dialect thereof, the marriage may be celebrated wholly in that language or dialect, and the great majority of Registry marriages are now celebrated in Chinese without an interpreter. The form of marriage certificate incorporates a Chinese translation of the printed English text, but is completed only in English, except for the characters of Chinese names.

145. During the year seven additional places of public worship were licensed for the celebration of marriages under the Ordinance, bringing the total number of licensed places to 128. All marriages performed at licensed places of worship are registered at the principal Registry in the City Hall.

Marriages performed and registered

146. 16,894 marriages were registered during the year, 952 less than in 1966-67. The slight decrease was attributed mainly to the fact that the year happened to be a 'blind year' in the Chinese lunar calendar with no first day of spring in it and therefore unpopular for marriages between Chinese. 15,347 civil marriages-633 less than in 1966-67— were performed in the Registries as follows:

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