ENG-2016 — Page 361

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Population and Immigration

licensed places of worship. In 2016, 22,205 marriages were celebrated in marriage registries, 2,007 in licensed places of worship, and 25,292 by civil celebrants.

The registrar issued 22,275 Certificates of Absence of Marriage Records in 2016.

Births and Deaths

Under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, parents shall register the birth of their child in Hong Kong with the Registrar of Births and Deaths within 42 days of the birth. Registration is free of charge during that period. A fee is charged if the birth is registered after 42 days. Registration later than 12 months after birth requires the registrar's consent. Four district birth registries provide birth registration service.

Deaths from natural causes should be registered by relatives within 24 hours. Three death registries and 15 designated police stations in the New Territories and outlying islands provide free death registration. In 2016, 60,331 live births and 46,662 deaths were registered.

Websites

Census and Statistics Department: www.censtatd.gov.hk

Immigration Department: www.immd.gov.hk

Security Bureau: www.sb.gov.hk

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