Marriages

Marriages in Hong Kong are governed by the Marriage Ordinance and
the Marriage Reform Ordinance. Normally, at least 15 days' notice of
an intended marriage must be given to the Registrar of Marriages.

Marriages may take place at any of the 221 places of public worship
licensed for the celebration of marriages, or at any of the 10 marriage
registries operated by the government. Four marriage registries are open
on Sundays. During the year, 35 295 marriages were performed in the
registries and 2 298 at the licensed places of worship. All records are
maintained permanently at the General Register Office in the Queensway
Government Offices.

The Marriage Reform Ordinance provides that all marriages entered into
in Hong Kong on or after October 7, 1971, shall imply the voluntary
union, for life, of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
They may be contracted only in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance.
Certain customary marriages and modern marriages remain valid,
provided that they were entered into before October 7, 1971. Such
marriages may be post-registered or dissolved. During the year, 11
customary and 35 modern marriages were post-registered.

The Registrar of Marriages is also responsible for issuing Certificates of
Absence of Marriage Records to local residents. During the year, 37 221
such certificates were issued, up 28 per cent from the 28 994 issued in
1996.

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