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The first batch of 132 marriage celebrants was appointed today (April 21).
The Registrar of Marriages, Mr TK Lai who is also the Director of Immigration, presented the notice of appointment to the first batch of civil celebrants in a ceremony.
"The purpose of the Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme is to meet the increasing public demand for the Government to provide more flexible marriage solemnisation services and to make use of private sector resources in providing such services," Mr Lai said at the ceremony.
Marrying couples may now give a notice of intended marriage through a civil celebrant to the Registrar of Marriages or a deputy registrar of marriages. They may also engage a civil celebrant to celebrate their marriage at any time within three months of the giving of the notice of intended marriage and at any place in Hong Kong, other than the office of the Registrar or a place of worship licensed under the Marriage Ordinance. The lifting of restrictions on time and place of marriages will provide more flexibility and convenience for those getting married.
Those who have already given notice of intention to marry at the Marriage Registration and Records Office or a marriage registry and wish to change to engage a civil celebrant to celebrate their marriage should make a request in advance at the marriage office or the marriage registry where the notice was given.
A list of civil celebrants has been uploaded to the Immigration Department website. It is also available at the Information and Liaison Section, the marriage office or any of the marriage registries of the Immigration Department.
Mr Lai also said the marriage office and marriage registries would continue to provide existing marriage related services such as accepting notice of intended marriage, celebrating marriage, providing marriage records, etc.
Those who decide to have their marriage celebrated by a civil celebrant, are advised to read through the contents of two documents issued by the Registrar - "Code of Practice for Civil Celebrants of Marriages" and "Information Leaflet for the Marrying Parties" which they can get from the civil celebrant free of charge or at the websites of the Immigration Department. They may also find information about giving notice of the intention to marry and about the marriage ceremony from the Immigration Department's website, http://www.immd.gov.hk.
Ends/Friday, April 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:36
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