law and religion of the parties. No such marriage may, however, be celebrated in Hong Kong since 7th October 1971, which was the day appointed by the Governor under the Marriage Reform Ordinance. This Ordinance provides for the post-registration of Chinese customary and modern marriages as defined in the Ordinance, and for the dissolu- tion of such marriages. The Ordinance also makes provision for related matters such as 'kim tiu' marriages and concubinage. During the year, 159 post-registrations of marriage were effected under the Marriage Reform Ordinance compared with 443 the previous year.
155. The principal Marriage Registry is located in the City Hall. In addition there are full-time' registries in the urban areas at Cause- way Bay, Western District, Shau Kei Wan, Aberdeen, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon City, San Po Kong and Kwun Tong; and in the New Terri- tories at Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long. The San Po Kong and Sheung Shui Registries, which were established during the year, are dealt with in more detail in the next paragraph.
156. On 22nd May 1972 the 'part-time' marriage registry at Sheung Shui Rural Committee Office moved to new premises at 26 San Fung Avenue, ground floor, and became a full-time' registry, combining with the Sheung Shui Birth Registry referred to in paragraph 173. A new registry situated on the 6th floor of the San Po Kong Government Offices at Prince Edward Road was opened on 26th June 1972 to serve the local community in the Wong Tai Sin and San Po Kong districts. This new registry has a large public area, two suitably decorated marriage rooms and a powder room.
157. During the year 14 'part-time' registries in the New Territories remained in operation at Sha Tin, Fanling, Sha Tau Kok, Tuen Mun, San Tin, Kam Tin, Ta Kwu Ling, Sai Kung (South), Cheung Chau, Peng Chau, Tung Chung, Mui Wo, Tai O and Lamma South. Marriage registry facilities continued to be required in these areas by reason of the fact that on and after the appointed day under the Marriage Reform Ordinance all marriages in the Colony must be celebrated in accordance with the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance. As numerous marriages previously celebrated in the New Territories were celebrated in accord- ance with customary rites, this meant that adequate marriage registry facilities under the Marriage Ordinance have to be maintained in these
areas.
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