Commencement of the Marriage (Introduction of Civil Celebrants of Marriages and General Amendments) Ordinance

Notice is hereby given that the Marriage (Introduction of Civil Celebrants of Marriages and General Amendments) Ordinance ("the Marriage Amendment Ordinance") comes into operation on 13 March 2006. 

The Marriage Amendment Ordinance amends the Marriage Ordinance, Cap. 181 ("the Ordinance") to empower the Registrar of Marriages to appoint civil celebrants of marriages and, to enable a marriage to be celebrated before a civil celebrant at any time and place, 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.

Under the amended Ordinance, the Registrar of Marriages would issue a Code of Practice for Civil Celebrants of Marriages to provide practical guidance in respect of the professional conduct of civil celebrants.  After the publication of the Code of Practice in the Gazette, the Registrar will start inviting applications for appointment as a civil celebrant at a later time in March 2006.  The invitation will be in the form of a public notice published in some of the local newspapers and the Immigration Department Homepage at http://www.immd.gov.hk. 

Meanwhile, parties to an intended marriage shall continue with the existing arrangements in giving a notice of intended marriage at the marriage registries or the Marriage Registration and Records Office.  Parties to an intended marriage, including those who have given a notice of intended marriage at the marriage registries or the Marriage Registration and Records Office, may engage a civil celebrant to celebrate their marriage when the first batch of civil celebrants is appointed in the second quarter of this year.