********************************************
The Immigration Department today (July 27) announced the appointment of another batch of 29 civil celebrants of marriages.
This brings the total number of civil celebrants to 1,217 since the appointment of the first batch on April 21, 2006.
A department spokesman said the Civil Celebrants of Marriages Scheme was well received by the public given that the lifting of restrictions by the scheme on the time and place of marriage solemnisation brought in more choices, greater flexibility and greater convenience for people making arrangements for weddings.
Up to mid-July 2007, about 16,900 couples had given their marriage notices through the civil celebrants and about 16,600 couples had their marriages celebrated by civil celebrants. Given the popularity of the scheme and that the latter part of a year will normally be the peak season for marriages, it is expected that more and more couples will choose to have their marriages celebrated by civil celebrants.
A name list of the appointed civil celebrants is available at the Immigration Department website at http://www.immd.gov.hk, where the "Information Leaflet for the Marrying Parties" can also be found. People can also approach the Information and Liaison Section of the Immigration Department at the 2nd Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai (Tel. No. 2824 6111) or various marriage registries for making enquiries and obtaining the Information Leaflet.
Ends/Friday, July 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 09:19
NNNN
