ENG-1971 — Page 299

POPULATION

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year from the date of birth, the birth may be registered on payment of a fee of $2. During the year 76,818 live births and 20,253 deaths were registered, compared with 77,465 and 20,763 respectively in 1970. These figures, when adjusted for under-registration, give a natural increase in population for 1971 of about 59,520. Only 111 illegitimate children were registered without the name of the father in the birth entry.

A birth which has not been registered within one year after the date of birth may be post-registered with the consent of the Registrar and on payment of a fee of $15. During the year 1,799 such births were post-registered, including 551 in the New Terri- tories. The principal reason given for non-registration at the time of birth was simple negligence, but there continues to be a number of cases where non-registration was due to the fact that facilities for registration were not available until 1932, and also some cases relating to births in the war years when there was no registration of births. However, in most cases during the last year applications for post-registration were in respect of minors. All applications for post-registration are passed to a legal officer in the Registrar General's Department for final approval.

The General Register Office is responsible for the collection of vital statistics for the Colony. The information is recorded on various statistical forms and coding sheets for card punching and data processing by computer.

MARRIAGES

All marriages are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Under the Marriage Ordinance, notice of an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar at least 15 clear days before the date of the marriage. The Registrar has discretion to reduce the period of notice in special circum- stances, and the Governor has power to grant a special licence dis- pensing with notice altogether, but this is done very rarely and then only in the most exceptional circumstances.

Marriages may take place either at places of public worship licensed for the celebration of marriages or at any of the 11 full- time marriage registries and 15 part-time sub-registries located in the main urban districts and rural centres. During the year 24,505 marriages were performed in the registries and 2,399 at licensed places of worship. The total was 26,904; 6,473 more than in 1970. All marriage records are maintained at the principal marriage registry at the City Hall.