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Starting from tomorrow (November 3), the Immigration Department will extend its appointment booking services to include birth registration of newborn babies. The first available appointment date of the booking service for birth registration will fall on November 10 (Monday).
"The extension of the booking service aims to provide parents of newborn babies more flexibility in making birth registration arrangements", a department spokesman said.
The 24-hour booking of appointments can be made through the Internet (www.gov.hk/birthregistration/) or by telephone (2598 0888), and is free of charge.
Before selecting the date of appointment, parents should confirm with the hospital where the child was born that the birth return has been delivered to the births registry.
When selecting a date of appointment for registration of their newborn babies, parents may choose a day (except Sundays and general holidays) within a period of 42 calendar days. The earliest available appointment is on the next working day following the booking, subject to the availability of time slots at the births registry in the district where the birth occurred (except for the first week of the new service from November 3 to 7 when the earliest available appointment date falls on November 10). After making the appointment, parents can also change or cancel it before the appointment date.
Under the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, no registration fee is payable if the birth is registered within a period of 42 days after birth. A prescribed fee of $140 will be charged if the birth is registered after 42 days but within 12 months after birth. Parents are advised to make use of the booking services for timely birth registration of their babies.
For further information on birth registration, please visit www.gov.hk/birthregistration/ or call the Immigration Department hotline 2824 6111.
Ends/Sunday, November 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:01
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