More civil celebrants of marriages appointed
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    The Immigration Department today (July 4) announced the appointment of another batch of 54 civil celebrants of marriages.

    This brings the total number of civil celebrants to 1,354 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 on the time and place of marriage solemnisation brought more choice, greater flexibility and greater convenience for people making wedding arrangements.

    To mid-June 2008, about 32,800 couples had given their marriage notices through the civil celebrants and about 32,700 couples had their marriages celebrated by civil celebrants.  Given the popularity of the scheme and that the latter part of the year will normally be the peak season for marriages, it is expected that more and more couples will choose to be married by civil celebrants.

    A name list of the appointed civil celebrants is available at the Immigration Department website at www.immd.gov.hk. The "Information Leaflet for the Marrying Parties" on the website provides the necessary steps and points to note in the selection of Civil Celebrants of Marriages. People may also approach the Information and Liaison Section of the Immigration Department on the 2nd Floor of Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai (tel. no. 2824 6111) or various marriage registries for this information.

Ends/Friday, July 4, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:01

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