Invitation for Applications for Appointment as a Civil Celebrant of Marriages Under Section 5A of the Marriage Ordinance, Cap. 181

The Registrar of Marriages invites applications from solicitors and notaries public meeting paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Eligibility Criteria for Civil Celebrants ("eligibility criteria") specified in Schedule 4 to the Marriage Ordinance, Cap. 181 ("the Ordinance") for appointment as a civil celebrant of marriages ("civil celebrant").  A civil celebrant may celebrate a marriage at any time and place in Hong Kong, other than the office of the Registrar of Marriages or a deputy registrar of marriages (a "marriage registry") or a place of worship licensed under the Ordinance.

Paragraph 3 of the eligibility criteria provides that any person who wishes to be appointed as a civil celebrant will need to have completed a training course organized for the purposes of the Ordinance as the Registrar may specify.  To enable an applicant to meet paragraph 3 of the eligibility criteria, the Registrar will, after receipt of the applications and on a first-come-first-serve basis, invite those applicants who have satisfied paragraphs 1 and 2 of the eligibility criteria to attend a training course organized by the Registrar.

Information on how to become a civil celebrant and the obligations of a civil celebrant are provided in the information pamphlet entitled "How to apply - Becoming a Civil Celebrant of Marriages".  Application forms and the aforesaid pamphlets can be obtained free from the following locations -
 
1. Immigration Department :

(i) Information and Liaison Section at 2nd Floor, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai (Telephone No. 2824 6111);

(ii) Marriage Registration and Records Office at 3rd Floor, Low Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Queensway (Telephone No. 2867 2787); and

(iii) Any of the marriage registries.

For the address and telephone no. of the marriage registries, please call the Information and Liaison Section at 2824 6111.

2. The Law Society of Hong Kong at 3rd Floor, Wing On House, 71 Des Voeux Road, Central (Telephone No. 2846 0500); and

3. Hong Kong Society of Notaries at Room 2604, Bank of America Tower, 12 Harcourt Road, Central (Telephone No. 2536 0961).

The application forms may also be downloaded from the Immigration Department website at http://www.immd.gov.hk.