### Marriage Ordinance 《婚姻條例》

2. Interpretation
In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires—
Appeal Board (上訴委員會) means the Civil Celebrant of Marriages Appointment Appeal Board established under section 5J; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
certificate of marriage (結婚證書) means a certificate of marriage in Form 4, Form 6 or Form 7, as may be applicable, in Schedule 1; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 30)
certificate of the Registrar (登記官證明書) means a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages issued under section 9(1); (Added 23 of 2005 s. 30)
civil celebrant (婚姻監禮人) means a civil celebrant of marriages appointed under section 5A whose appointment is for the time being valid; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
code of practice (實務守則) means a code of practice issued under section 5C(1); (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
digital image (數碼影像), in relation to a document, means an image of the document kept on a computer system or on an electronic medium; (Added 8 of 2006 s. 41)
licensed place of worship (特許禮拜場所) means a place licensed under section 4; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 30)
notice of intended marriage (擬結婚通知書) means a notice given under section 6(1); (Added 23 of 2005 s. 30)
prescribed fee (訂明費用) means, in relation to any matter provided for in this Ordinance, the fee specified in Schedule 2 in respect of the matter; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
proposed date of marriage (預定結婚日期) means the date on which an intended marriage is proposed to be contracted; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
Registrar (登記官) means the Registrar of Marriages appointed under section 3 and includes any deputy registrar of marriages so appointed; (Amended 23 of 2005 s. 30)
Secretary (局長) means the Secretary for Security; (Added 23 of 2005 s. 3)
special licence (特別許可證) means a special licence granted under section 11(1). (Added 23 of 2005 s. 30)
(Added 20 of 1948 s. 4)

### Marriage Ordinance 《婚姻條例》

2A. Certain notices are not subsidiary legislation
A notice under section 5, 5A(4)(c), 5C(3), 5D(8)(a), 5E(9) or 5J(5) is not subsidiary legislation.
(Added 23 of 2005 s. 4)

3. Registrar of Marriages and deputy registrars
(1) It shall be lawful for the Chief Executive from time to time to appoint such person as he may please to be Registrar of Marriages, and to appoint deputy registrars of marriages. (Amended 71 of 1999 s. 3)
(2) It shall not be necessary in any such appointment to name any particular individual and the appointment may be of the holder of an office in the name of the office, in which case the person for the time being performing the duties of such office shall be deemed to have been appointed to be Registrar or a deputy registrar, as the case may be, and all the powers and duties expressed by this or any other Ordinance to be conferred or imposed on the Registrar or on a deputy registrar, as the case may be, shall from time to time be deemed to have been conferred or imposed on the person for the time being performing the duties of such office.
(Replaced 14 of 1926 s. 2. Amended 20 of 1948 s. 4)

4. Licensing of places of worship
The Chief Executive may— (Amended 23 of 2005 s. 32)
(a) by granting a licence in respect of any place of public worship, license such place to be a place for celebration of marriages; and
(b) cancel any such licence at any time.
(Amended 71 of 1999 s. 3; 23 of 2005 s. 32)

5. Notification of licence
Whenever the Chief Executive grants or cancels any licence under section 4, the Registrar shall give public notice thereof in the Gazette.
(Amended 14 of 1926 s. 5; 20 of 1948 s. 4; 71 of 1999 s. 3; 23 of 2005 s. 33)

### Marriage Ordinance 《婚姻條例》

5A. Appointment of civil celebrant and renewal of appointment
(1) The Registrar may, upon application, appoint any person who meets all criteria prescribed for the time being in Schedule 4 as a civil celebrant of marriages.
(2) The Registrar may, upon application of a civil celebrant, renew his appointment as a civil celebrant if he meets all criteria prescribed for the time being in Schedule 4.
(3) An appointment—
(a) made under subsection (1); or
(b) renewed under subsection (2),
is valid for 5 years. This period of 5 years shall not be affected by any suspension under section 5E.
(4) The Registrar shall—
(a) effect an appointment by giving the applicant concerned a written notice;
(b) effect a renewal of appointment by giving the civil celebrant concerned a written notice; and
(c) publish an appointment or a renewal of appointment by notice in the Gazette.

5B. Application for appointment as civil celebrant or renewal of appointment
(1) An application for appointment or renewal of appointment under section 5A shall be—
(a) in such form as the Registrar may specify;
(b) submitted in such manner as the Registrar may specify;
(c) accompanied by such information or documents as the Registrar may specify or as he may reasonably require;
(d) accompanied by the prescribed fee for application processing; and
(e) accompanied by the prescribed fee for—
(i) appointment as civil celebrant; or
(ii) renewal of appointment as civil celebrant,
as may be appropriate.
(2) The Registrar may refuse to process an application if subsection (1) is not complied with in relation to it.
(3) The Registrar shall refuse an application if—
(a) the applicant does not meet any criterion prescribed in Schedule 4; or
(b) a notice given under section 5D(9) is in force in relation to the applicant.
(4) If an application is refused by the Registrar—
(a) he shall give the applicant a written notice of—
(i) the refusal; and
(ii) the reason for the refusal; and
(b) the prescribed fee for—
(i) appointment as civil celebrant; or
(ii) renewal of appointment as civil celebrant,
as may be appropriate, shall be refunded to the applicant.
(5) Where—
(a) a person applies for appointment or renewal of appointment by virtue of a professional qualification prescribed in Schedule 4; and
(b) he is a member of a professional body which has statutory authority to regulate the relevant profession,
the Registrar may consult the body on whether the applicant meets any criterion prescribed in Schedule 4.

### Marriage Ordinance 《婚姻條例》

5C. Code of practice for civil celebrants
(1) The Registrar may issue such code of practice as he considers appropriate for the purpose of providing practical guidance in respect of the professional conduct of civil celebrants.
(2) The Registrar may from time to time revise a code of practice.
(3) The Registrar shall publish by notice in the Gazette—
(a) a code of practice and its commencement date; and
(b) the particulars of any revision under subsection (2) and its commencement date.