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From Monday (September 21), the Immigration Department will accept online submissions of information required for registration of marriage of marrying parties who have already made an appointment for giving the notice of intended marriage.
According to existing regulations, if marrying parties intend to solemnise their marriage, one or both of them is/are required to give a notice of intended marriage either at the marriage registry in person or through a Civil Celebrant of Marriages. At the time of giving the notice, they are required to provide their Hong Kong identity cards or valid travel documents as well as the information required for registration of marriage, including name and surname, marital condition, occupation, age, residential address, the full name of their parents, etc.
With effect from Monday, marrying parties who have successfully made an appointment for giving the notice at the marriage registry through the Internet or the telephone booking system (including those who have already booked an appointment for giving the notice before September 21) can choose to submit the information required for registration of marriage through the Internet (www.gov.hk/marriagebooking). This add-on facility is free of charge.
"The processing time for giving the notice of intended marriage at the marriage registry on the appointment day can be shortened if the required information is submitted online in advance. Hence, the department strongly appeals to marrying parties to use this add-on facility", a department spokesman said.
If marrying parties choose to submit the required information online, they should submit it at least one day before their scheduled appointment for giving the notice. At the appointment time, one of the parties to the intended marriage shall, in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance, attend the marriage registry for giving the notice. At the time, if necessary, parties to the intended marriage can make corrections to the information submitted. If they fail to attend as scheduled, their appointment will be cancelled and the information submitted will be automatically deleted by the system at the end of the appointment day.
For further information, please visit http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/bdmreg_4.htm or call the Immigration Department hotline 2824 6111.
Ends/Friday, September 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:52
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