ENG-1963 — Page 286

228

LAW, ORDER AND RECORDS

Bankruptcies and Liquidations. During the year the court made nine receiving orders, two orders for the administration in bankruptcy of the estates of deceased debtors and nine orders for the compulsory winding up of companies. These cases, how- ever, represent only a small fraction of the number of business failures because few Chinese businessmen care to submit debtors' petitions. At the same time creditors' petitions are kept down partly because creditors are disinclined to incur the high legal costs incidental to a petition, and partly because the court has power to dismiss a petition where it is not satisfied that the assets are sufficient to pay a 15 per cent dividend to unsecured creditors. A company's business failure is usually followed by a voluntary liquidation, or the company is simply left to be struck off the register. Fifty-six companies were dissolved by voluntary liquida- tion and 54 by being struck off the register during 1963.

Marriages. All marriages, except non-Christian customary mar- riages, are governed by the Marriage Ordinance. Under this, notice of an intended marriage must be given to the registrar at least 15 clear days before the date of the marriage. The registrar is empowered to reduce this period in special circumstances, and the Governor may grant a special licence dispensing with notice altogether. Special licences are, however, granted only in the most exceptional circumstances. Marriages may take place either at places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages or at a marriage registry. Ninety-six places of public worship have been licensed for this purpose, and there are four full-time marriage registries in the urban areas and seven sub-registries in outlying districts and the New Territories operating full-time or one day a fortnight. All marriage records are maintained at the principal marriage registry at the City Hall. During the year 10,424 marriages were performed in marriage registries and sub-registries, and 1,374 at licensed places of worship. The total was 365 more than in 1962.

The Marriage Ordinance does not apply to non-Christian customary marriages duly celebrated according to the personal law and religion of the parties, and such marriages do not require to be registered. Consequently no statistics of such marriages are available, but it is thought that despite the growing popularity of registry marriages, there are still as many unregistered marriages