Interactive Voice Response System. During the year, over 98 per cent of the parties who filed their marriage notices on the first day of the notice-giving period did it through the system.
The Registrar of Marriages is also responsible for issuing Certificates of Absence of Marriage Records. During the year, 18 740 such certificates were issued.
The Marriage (Introduction of Civil Celebrants of Marriages and General Amendments) Ordinance came into effect on March 13, 2006, allowing marrying parties to engage a civil celebrant to celebrate marriages at any time and place other than the marriage registries and licensed places of public worship. During the year, 1 097 people were appointed as civil celebrants who solemnised 8 824 marriages.
Births and Deaths
Birth and death registrations in Hong Kong are governed by the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance. Parents must register the birth of their child in Hong Kong with the Registrar of Births and Deaths within 42 days during which registration is free of charge. A fee is charged if the birth is registered after 42 days. Registration beyond 12 months after the birth of the child requires the consent of the registrar. During the year, 37 births required the consent for post-registration. There are four district birth registries providing birth registration service to the public.
Deaths from natural causes should be registered by relatives within 24 hours. Hong Kong has three death registries providing free service, and death may also be registered at one of the 15 designated police stations in the New Territories and outlying islands.
During the year, 65 195 live births and 37 415 deaths were registered, compared with 57 124 and 38 683 respectively in 2005.
Establishment
The Immigration Department had 4 658 disciplined staff at the end of the year compared with 4 585 in 2005, and 1 534 civilian staff compared with 1 548 the previous year.
Home Pages
Security Bureau: www.sb.gov.hk
Immigration Department: www.immd.gov.hk
Census and Statistics Department: www.censtatd.gov.hk
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