Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 1
Chapter: 174 BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE Gazette Number Version Date
Long title 30/06/1997
To consolidate and amend the law relating to the registration of births and deaths.
[10 August 1934]
(Originally 21 of 1934; 18 of 1948 (Cap 174 1950))
Section: 1 Short title 30/06/1997
This Ordinance may be cited as the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance.
Section: 2 Interpretation L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires- (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"births register" (出生冊) means the births register referred to in section 4(3)(b); (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"computer record" (電腦紀錄) means the computer record compiled under section 5A; (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"deaths register" (死亡冊) means the deaths register referred to in section 4(3)(c); (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"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. 9)
"house" (房屋) includes any building, structure, or vessel;
"occupier" (佔用人) includes the warden, keeper, master, manager, director, matron, superintendent, superior, or
other chief resident officer of every convent or public or charitable or religious or educational institution, and,
where a house is let or sub-let in separate floors or rooms or compartments, includes any person residing in such
house who either receives or pays rent for such separate floors or rooms or compartments. In cases where a
whole house is occupied by any person without being let or sub-let as aforesaid, such person shall, whether he is
the owner or not, be deemed to be the occupier;
"public institution" (公立機構) includes a prison, lock-up, reformatory school, certified industrial school, house of
detention, mental hospital and hospital;
"register" (登記紀錄) means (as the case may be) any of the register books, the births register or the deaths register;
(Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"register books" (登記冊) means the register books of births and the register books of deaths referred to in section
4(3)(a); (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"register computer" (登記電腦) means a computer forming the system of recording the particulars under section 5A;
(Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
"Registrar" (登記官) means the Registrar of Births and Deaths, and includes any deputy registrar of births and deaths;
(Replaced 9 of 1957 s. 2)
"registrar" (登記官員) includes the Registrar and any deputy registrar or district registrar of births and deaths.
(Added 9 of 1957 s. 2)
"signed register form" (經簽署登記表格) means a register form referred to in section 4(1), completed with
particulars required to be registered under this Ordinance and signed. (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
(2) In sections 4(4)(b) and 5(2), references to "signed register form" shall be construed as including the
certified copy of such signed register form referred to in section 11(2). (Added 80 of 1997 s. 47)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 48 U.K.]
Section: 3 Registrar, staff and general register office 71 of 1999 01/07/1997
Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 71 of 1999 s. 3
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 2
(1) The Chief Executive may appoint-
(a) a person to be the Registrar of Births and Deaths;
(b) subject to subsection (2), such deputy registrars, district registrars, clerks and subordinate officers as
may be necessary for the purposes of this Ordinance;
(c) a general register office for keeping registers of all births and deaths occurring in Hong Kong.
(2) Unless and until otherwise directed by the Chief Executive, the officer in charge of each police station
mentioned in the second column of the First Schedule shall be a district registrar of deaths for the district specified in
relation to that police station in the first column of that Schedule.
(Replaced 38 of 1979 s. 2. Amended 71 of 1999 s. 3)
Section: 4 Register forms L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) The Registrar shall cause to be supplied to all register offices set out in the First Schedule register forms of
births and register forms of deaths which shall be respectively in the prescribed form. (See Forms 1 & 2) (Amended
80 of 1997 s. 49; 8 of 2006 s. 10)
(2) The particulars required to be registered concerning any birth or death shall be the particulars specified in
the said forms.
(3) The Registrar shall cause to be kept in his department-
(a) the register books of births and the register books of deaths kept at the general register office and
district registry offices immediately prior to 6 November 1995;
(b) a births register, in which shall be recorded the particulars of the birth of any child that are registered
under this Ordinance on or after 6 November 1995; and
(c) a deaths register, in which shall be recorded the particulars of the death of any person that are
registered under this Ordinance on or after 6 November 1995. (Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 49)
(4) (a) The Registrar may cause the register books, whether in the form of paper or microfilm, or any part of
them to be recorded in the form of digital image, and for the purposes of subsection (3)(a), the register
books, whether in the form of paper or microfilm, or such part of them as the Registrar sees fit may be
kept in the form of digital image.
(b) The births register and the deaths register shall be compiled from signed register forms which are
recorded in the form of digital image in accordance with section 5. (Replaced 8 of 2006 s. 10)
(5) An entry of birth or death in the register shall, in the case of non-Chinese, be in the English language and in
the case of Chinese shall be both in the English and the Chinese languages. (Added 80 of 1997 s. 49)
Section: 5 Signed register forms to be recorded in form of digital
image
L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
Signed register forms to be recorded in form of digital image
(Amended 8 of 2006 s. 11)
(1) For the purpose of compiling the births register, the Registrar shall cause to be recorded in the form of
digital image every signed register form that relates to the birth of a child.
(2) For the purpose of compiling the deaths register, the Registrar shall cause to be recorded in the form of
digital image every signed register form that relates to the death of a person.
(Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 50. Amended 8 of 2006 s. 11)
Section: 5A Computer record 30/06/1997
(1) The Registrar shall cause to be compiled, in accordance with this section, a computer record of the
particulars required to be registered under this Ordinance.
(2) The registrar at the general register office or at a district registry office shall, in respect of-
(a) every signed register form completed in his presence; and
(b) every certified copy of a signed register form sent to him under section 11(2),
for registering any birth or death under this Ordinance on or after 6 November 1995, record the particulars contained
in it in the form of data stored in the database of a register computer, and the data shall be capable of being retrieved
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 3
and reproduced in a legible form.
(3) The Registrar may cause the particulars of the entries in any register book or any part of a register book to
be recorded in the computer record, in the form of data as described in subsection (2).
(4) The computer record shall be divided into 2 parts for recording such particulars on births and deaths
respectively.
(Added 80 of 1997 s. 50)
Section: 6 Inspection 30/06/1997
From time to time and as often as may be necessary the Registrar or a deputy registrar shall visit each district
registry office to inspect the register books, register forms (signed or unsigned), and other documents kept at that
office and confer with the district registrar as to the facts regarding registration in his district.
(Amended 9 of 1957 s. 3; 80 of 1997 s. 51)
Section: 7 Duty of parent or occupier to register birth 30/06/1997
The father of every child born alive in Hong Kong, or, in case of death, illness, absence, or inability of the
father, the mother of such child, or in case of the death, illness, absence, or inability of the father and mother, the
occupier of the house in which such child has been born, or any person present at the birth, shall, within 42 days after
the day of such birth, give information to a registrar according to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, of the
several particulars required to be registered, and shall, in the presence of such registrar, sign and submit to such
registrar a register form completed with the information so given.
(Amended 1 of 1965 s. 2; 67 of 1984 s. 2; 80 of 1997 s. 52)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 1 U.K.]
Section: 8 Information respecting living new-born child to be given to
a registrar
30/06/1997
(1) In case any child is born in, or any new-born child is admitted to, any public institution, convent or other
charitable or religious institution, it shall be the duty of the person having charge of such institution or convent to
ascertain from the mother of such child or person bringing such child such information of the particulars required to be
registered concerning the birth of such child as can be elicited and to cause such information to be given to a registrar
within 42 days. (Amended 1 of 1965 s. 3)
(2) In case any living new-born child is found exposed, it shall be the duty of any person finding such child,
and of any person in whose charge such child may be placed, to report such finding to a registrar, and within 42 days
to give, to the best of his knowledge and belief, such information of the particulars required to be registered
concerning the birth of such child as the informant possesses, and, in the presence of such registrar, to sign and submit
to such registrar a register form completed with the information so given. (Amended 1 of 1965 s. 3; 80 of 1997 s. 53)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 3 U.K.]
Section: 9 Registration of births, certificates of birth L.N. 452 of 1997 31/10/1997
(1) In every case where the information required by sections 7 and 8 is given within 42 days of the birth of any
child, exclusive of the day of birth, such birth shall be registered without any fee and shall be deemed to be registered
in the births register on the submission of the signed register form. (Amended 1 of 1965 s. 4)
(2) When such information is given after the expiration of the said 42 days and within 12 months after the said
birth, exclusive of the day of birth, the birth shall be registered on payment by the informant of a fee of $140 and shall
be deemed to be registered in the births register on the submission of the signed register form together with the fee.
(Amended 34 of 1939 s. 2; 1 of 1965 s. 4; 48 of 1975 s. 2; 67 of 1984 s. 3; 51 of 1986 s. 2; L.N. 73 of 1991; L.N. 196
of 1993; L.N. 362 of 1994; L.N. 241 of 1995; L.N. 283 of 1996; L.N. 452 of 1997)
(3) No birth shall be registered after the expiry of 12 months from the date thereof except with the consent of
the Registrar and then only on payment by the informant of a fee of $680, and the fact of such consent having been
given shall be noted in the signed register form, and if such consent has been given, such birth shall be deemed to be
registered in births register on the submission of the signed register form together with the fee. (Amended 34 of 1939
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 4
s. 2; 1 of 1965 s. 4; 48 of 1975 s. 2; 67 of 1984 s. 3; 51 of 1986 s. 2; L.N. 73 of 1991; L.N. 196 of 1993; L.N. 362 of
1994; L.N. 241 of 1995; L.N. 283 of 1996; L.N. 452 of 1997)
(4) Any person obtaining registration of any birth under any subsection of this section shall be entitled at the
time of registration to receive free a certificate of such registration in the prescribed form. (See Form 3)
(Amended 80 of 1997 s. 54)
Section: 10 Duty of registrar to procure registration of births 30/06/1997
Notwithstanding the omission to report or furnish information as to any birth within 42 days it shall be the duty
of every registrar to procure by all means in his power the best and most accurate information respecting any birth
which may have occurred within his district and to cause the same to be registered as prescribed by section 9.
(Amended 1 of 1965 s. 5)
Section: 11 Signed register forms or certified copies of signed register
forms to be sent to general register office
30/06/1997
(1) The registrar at every district registry office shall cause to be sent to the general register office, at such
times as may be directed by the Registrar, signed register forms completed in his presence.
(2) The district registrar of deaths under section 3(2) shall, in addition to the requirement in subsection (1),
cause to be sent to the general register office, once in each month or as directed by the Registrar, certified copies of
signed register forms completed in his presence.
(Added 80 of 1997 s. 55)
Section: 12 Registration of father of illegitimate child 32 of 2000 09/06/2000
Expanded Cross Reference:
7, 8, 9, 10
(1) Notwithstanding sections 7 to 10, in the case of an illegitimate child-
(a) no person shall, as father of the child, be required to give information concerning the birth of the child;
and
(b) there shall not be registered in the register the name of any person as father of the child, except in the
circumstances provided in subsection (2).
(2) The circumstances referred to in subsection (1)(b) are-
(a) at the joint request of the mother and the person stating himself to be the father of the child; or
(b) at the request of the mother on production of-
(i) a declaration made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child; and
(ii) a statutory declaration made by that person stating himself to be the father of the child; or
(c) at the request of that person on production of-
(i) a declaration by that person stating himself to be the father of the child; and
(ii) a statutory declaration made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child; or
(d) at the request of the mother or that person on production of-
(i) a certified copy of a relevant order; and
(ii) if the child has attained the age of 16 years, the written consent of the child to the registration of
that person as his father.
(3) In this section and in section 12A, "relevant order" (有關命令), in relation to a request under subsection
(2)(d) that the name of any person be entered in the register as father of a child, means any of the following orders,
namely-
(a) a declaration of a court under Part IV of the Parent and Child Ordinance (Cap 429) that the person is or
was the father of the child;
(b) an order of a court under the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance (Cap 13)-
(i) under section 3(1)(d) granting that person any right or authority in relation to the child;
(ii) under section 10(1) granting that person custody of or access to the child; or
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 5
(iii) under section 10(2) requiring that person to make any lump sum or periodical payment in respect
of the minor. (Amended 32 of 2000 s. 14)
(c) (Repealed 32 of 2000 s. 14)
(4) An order of a court under section 5 of the Affiliation Proceedings Ordinance (Cap 183)# adjudging a person
to be the putative father of a child which has effect immediately before 27 June 1997 shall continue to be treated as a
relevant order under subsection (3) as if section 5 of that Ordinance had not been repealed. (Added 32 of 2000 s. 14)
(Replaced 17 of 1993 s. 19)
[cf. 1953 c. 20 s. 10 U.K.; 1987 c. 42 s. 24 U.K.]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Note:
# Repealed-see 80 of 1997 s. 79.
Section: 12A Re-registration of father of illegitimate child 30/06/1997
Where there has been registered under this Ordinance the birth of an illegitimate child, but no person has been
registered as the father of the child, the Registrar shall re-register the birth so as to show a person as the father-
(a) at the joint request of the mother and that person; or
(b) at the request of the mother on production of-
(i) a declaration made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child; and
(ii) a statutory declaration made by that person stating himself to be the father of the child; or
(c) at the request of that person on production of-
(i) a declaration by that person stating himself to be the father of the child; and
(ii) a statutory declaration made by the mother stating that that person is the father of the child; or
(d) at the request of the mother or that person on production of-
(i) a certified copy of a relevant order; and
(ii) if the child has attained the age of 16 years, the written consent of the child to the registration of
that person as the father.
(Added 17 of 1993 s. 19)
[cf. 1953 c. 20 s. 10A U.K.; 1987 c. 42 s. 25 U.K.]
Section: 12B Re-registration after declaration of parentage or
legitimacy
30/06/1997
Where-
(a) the registrar receives notification issued pursuant to section 6 of the Parent and Child Ordinance (Cap
429) of the making of a declaration of-
(i) parentage; or
(ii) legitimacy,
in respect of a person whose birth has previously been registered; and
(b) it appears to him that the birth of that person should be re-registered,
he shall authorize the re-registration of that person's birth.
(Added 17 of 1993 s. 19)
[cf. 1953 c. 20 s. 14A U.K.; 1987 c. 42 s. 26 U.K.]
Section: 12C Re-registration after parental order in favour of gamete
donors
30/06/1997
Where the Registrar receives notification issued pursuant to section 12 of the Parent and Child Ordinance (Cap
429) of an order under that section providing for a child to be treated in law as the child of the parties to a marriage, in
respect of a child whose birth has previously been registered, he shall authorize the re-registration of that child's birth.
(Added 17 of 1993 s. 19)
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 6
Section: 12D Supply of copy of previous entry requires Registrar's
consent
30/06/1997
Notwithstanding section 22(1) or 23, where the birth of a child has been re-registered under section 12A, 12B or
12C, no certified copy of any previous entry of that birth shall be supplied without the consent of the Registrar.
(Added 17 of 1993 s. 19)
Section: 13 Registration of name of child or of alteration of name L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) Subject to subsection (3A), in every case where it is desired after registration to alter or add to the name of
any child whose birth has been registered with a name, or to give a name or names to any child whose birth has been
registered without a name, the parent or guardian of such child may make a declaration in writing before a registrar in
the prescribed form: (See Forms 4 & 5) (Amended 52 of 1979 s. 2)
Provided that whenever it is shown to the satisfaction of the registrar that, owing to death or absence from Hong
Kong or other reasonable cause, the parent or guardian is unable to attend to make a declaration in writing in
accordance with this section, it shall be lawful for the registrar, in his discretion, upon such evidence as he may in the
circumstances deem sufficient, to act in all respects as if a declaration in writing had been made under this subsection
before him personally. (Amended 67 of 1984 s. 4)
(2) The registrar shall, without erasure of the previous entry, forthwith-
(a) if the birth has been registered in a register book, subject to subsection (6), enter in the register book;
or
(b) if the particulars of the registration have been recorded in the computer record, enter in the computer
record,
the name or names desired to be substituted or added and the date when such substitution or addition is entered, and
the substituted name or the added name is regarded as registered on that date. (Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 57)
(2A) On the alteration or addition of name under this section, the registrar shall, if requested, on payment of a fee
of $140, issue a certificate in the prescribed form to any person making the request. (See Forms 6 & 7) (Added 80 of
1997 s. 57. Amended L.N. 452 of 1997)
(3) For every such entry made within a period of 42 days from the date of the birth no fee shall be paid. For
every such entry made after such 42 days a fee of $425 shall be paid. (Amended 1 of 1965 s. 7; 48 of 1975 s. 3; 67 of
1984 s. 4; 51 of 1986 s. 3; L.N. 73 of 1991; L.N. 196 of 1993; L.N. 362 of 1994; L.N. 241 of 1995; L.N. 283 of 1996;
L.N. 452 of 1997)
(3A) No alteration or addition to the name or names of a child shall be made under this section after the child has
attained the age of 11 years. (Added 52 of 1979 s. 2. Amended 80 of 1997 s. 57)
(4) In this section, "name" (名) or (名字) does not include "surname" (姓氏).
(5) (Repealed 8 of 2006 s. 13)
(6) Where subsection (2)(a) applies and the register book or the relevant part of it in which the birth has been
registered has been recorded in the form of digital image for the purpose of section 4(3)(a), the name or names desired
to be substituted or added and the date when such substitution or addition was entered shall be recorded on the
relevant digital image. (Added 80 of 1997 s. 57. Amended 8 of 2006 s. 13)
(7) Where subsection (2)(b) applies, the Registrar shall cause the alteration or addition of name (as may be
appropriate) to be recorded on the relevant digital image. (Replaced 8 of 2006 s. 13)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 8 U.K.]
Section: 14 Information of death to be given in various cases to
registrar, etc.
35 of 1998 18/09/1998
(1) When a person dies in a house it shall be the duty of the nearest relatives of the deceased present at the
death or in attendance during his last illness, and, in default of such relatives, of each person present at the death or in
attendance during the last illness, and of any occupier of the house in which, to his knowledge, the death took place,
and, in default of any such persons, of each inmate of such house, and of the person causing the body of the deceased
to be buried, to give, to the best of his knowledge and belief, to a registrar within 24 hours (exclusive of the time
necessary for the journey and of any intervening hours of darkness and of general holidays as defined by the General
Holidays Ordinance (Cap 149)) after such death, information of the particulars required to be registered concerning
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 7
such death, and in the presence of the registrar to sign and submit to such registrar a register form completed with the
information so given, and such death shall be deemed to be registered in the deaths register on the submission of the
signed register form: (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 58; 35 of 1998 s. 5)
Provided that where no such informant as aforesaid is forthcoming, the person finding the body shall within 24
hours after such finding proceed as provided in subsection (2). [cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 10 U.K.]
(2) When a person dies in a place which is not a house, or a dead body is found elsewhere than in a house, it
shall be the duty of every relative of the deceased, having knowledge of any of the particulars required to be registered
concerning the death, and, in default of such relative, of every person present at the death, and of any person finding
and of any person taking charge of the body, and of the person causing the body to be buried, to give to the officer in
charge of the nearest police station, within 24 hours after the death or the finding, such information of the particulars
required to be registered concerning the death as the informant possesses, and such particulars shall be forthwith
forwarded by the said officer to a registrar. [cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 11 U.K.]
(3) When an inquest is held by a coroner into the death of any person the coroner holding the inquest shall
inquire of the particulars required to be registered concerning the death and shall send to the Registrar within 24 hours
after the termination of the inquest, a certificate under his hand giving information concerning the death and
specifying the said particulars and the time and place at which the inquest was held and the Registrar shall cause the
deaths and particulars to be duly registered. When an inquest is held by a coroner on any dead body no person shall
with respect to such dead body or death be subject to any penalty for failing to give information in pursuance of any
other provision of this Ordinance. (Amended 57 of 1967 Schedule; L.N. 374 of 1991; 27 of 1997 s. 70) [cf. 1874 c.
88 s. 16 U.K.]
(4) (Repealed 80 of 1997 s. 58)
Section: 15 Duty of registrars to procure registration of deaths 30/06/1997
(1) Notwithstanding any omission to report, or furnish information as to any death within the time laid down in
section 14, it shall be the duty of every registrar to procure by all means in his power the best and most accurate
information respecting any death which may have occurred within his district and cause the same to be registered.
(2) In every case in which a registrar receives information of the death in Hong Kong of any person who is a
national of a state to which section 3 of the Consular Conventions Ordinance (Cap 267) applies, he shall cause
information of the fact to be communicated to the Official Administrator. (Replaced 12 of 1951 s. 3. Amended 67 of
1984 s. 5)
(3) In every case in which a registrar receives information of the death in Hong Kong of any citizen of the
United States of America, he shall cause information of the fact to be communicated to the Official Administrator, in
order that the necessary information may be forwarded to the nearest consular officer of the said United States.
(Added 12 of 1953 s. 2. Amended 67 of 1984 s. 5)
Section: 16 Restriction on removal of dead body 30/06/1997
(1) No person, unless acting under the written sanction or direction of a registrar, shall remove, or assist or
attempt to remove, or procure the removal of, or bury any dead body until a certificate of registration of death under
section 17 has been issued, or an order to bury or cremate has been obtained from a coroner: (Amended 57 of 1967
Schedule)
Provided that where interment is urgent and it is not possible promptly to procure such certificate or order, it
shall be the duty of any person who may desire to remove or bury a dead body to report the same at the nearest police
station, when the inspector or other officer in charge may issue forthwith a permit in the prescribed form. The issue of
such permit shall be forthwith reported to a registrar by the issuing officer, and shall not exonerate the persons
required by this Ordinance to give information respecting the death of any person from giving the information
required. (See Form 8)
(2) No person shall remove, or assist to remove, or procure the removal of a dead body from Hong Kong until
he has obtained from a registrar a permit in the prescribed form. (See Form 9) (Amended 67 of 1984 s. 6)
Section: 17 Issue of certificate of registration of death or of certificate
of order for burial
30/06/1997
(1) A registrar, immediately on registering any death or as soon thereafter as he may be required to do so, shall,
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 8
without any fee, deliver, either to the person giving information concerning the death or to the undertaker or other
person having charge of the funeral, a certificate under his hand in the prescribed form, that such death has been duly
registered, and such certificate shall be delivered by such undertaker or other person to the officer in charge of the
police station for the district where the death was registered: (See Form 10)
Provided that a coroner may order any body to be buried or cremated, if he thinks fit, before registration of the
death, and shall in such case give a certificate of his order in writing under his hand in the prescribed form to the
relative of the deceased or other person who causes the body to be buried or cremated or to such undertaker or other
person having charge of the funeral, and such certificate shall be delivered by the recipient to such police officer, as
aforesaid. (See Form 11) (Amended 57 of 1967 Schedule)
(2) In addition to the certificates mentioned above, any person obtaining registration under section 14 shall be
entitled at the time of registration to receive a free certificate in the prescribed form. (See Form 12)
Section: 18 Burial of deceased child as still-born, etc. 30/06/1997
No person shall wilfully bury or procure to be buried the body of any deceased child as if it were still-born. No
person shall bury or procure to be buried any still-born child, unless there is delivered to him either-
(a) a written certificate in the prescribed form that such child was not born alive, signed by a registered
medical practitioner who was in attendance at the birth or has examined the body of such child; or (See
Form 13)
(b) (Repealed 47 of 1997 s. 10)
(c) an order of a coroner. (Amended 57 of 1967 Schedule)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 18 U.K.]
Section: 19 Notice where coffin contains more than one body 30/06/1997
When there is in the coffin in which any deceased person is brought for burial the body of any other deceased
person or the body of a still-born child, the undertaker or other person who has charge of the funeral shall deliver to
the officer in charge of the police station for the district where the death occurred or where such body was found a
notice in writing, signed by such undertaker or other person, stating to the best of his knowledge and belief, with
respect to each body, particulars in the prescribed form. (See Forms 15, 16 & 17)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 19 U.K.]
Section: 20 Provisions as to certificates of cause of death L.N. 211 of 1998 04/05/1998
With respect to certificates of the cause of death, the following provisions shall have effect-
(a) the Registrar shall, on the application in writing of a registered medical practitioner, furnish him with a
book of printed forms of certificates of death in the prescribed form; (See Form 18)
(b) in case of the death of any person who has been attended during his last illness by a registered medical
practitioner, that practitioner shall forthwith sign and give to some person required by this Ordinance
to give information concerning the death a certificate, in the form prescribed by this section, stating to
the best of his knowledge and belief the cause of death, and such person shall, on giving information
concerning the death, deliver that certificate to a registrar; and the cause of death as stated in that
certificate shall be entered in the register:
Provided that the practitioner shall not sign that certificate unless he has personally viewed the
body of that person and is satisfied that death has occurred or, if the death has occurred in a hospital, he
has received a notice from another registered medical practitioner stating that the other practitioner has
personally viewed that body and is satisfied that death has occurred; (Amended 40 of 1967 s. 2; 27 of
1997 s. 71)
(c) where an inquest is held on the body of any deceased person, or where a coroner has issued a burial
order, a medical certificate of the cause of death need not be given; (Amended 57 of 1967 Schedule;
27 of 1997 s. 71)
(d) for the purpose of securing uniformity in the death returns, the cause of death certified by a registered
medical practitioner, or by any medical officer in any branch of Her Majesty's service, or by a coroner
shall, so far as possible, be described in strict accordance with such classification as may be prescribed.
If in any certificate the cause of death is not so described, it shall be lawful for a registrar to refuse to
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 9
register the cause of death as thus certified, and to proceed in the manner provided by section 21 for
cases in which that officer suspects that the reported cause of death is not the true cause. (Amended 1
of 1965 s. 8; 57 of 1967 Schedule)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 20 U.K.]
Section: 21 Investigation of cause of death and of correctness of death
certificate
30/06/1997
(1) In the case of the death of any person who has not been attended during his last illness by any registered
medical practitioner it shall be the duty of the Registrar to institute, or cause to be instituted, inquiries with a view to
ascertaining the true cause of death.
(2) It shall be lawful for the Registrar in any case in which he wishes to verify the correctness of any certificate
of the cause of death of any person to institute, or cause to be instituted, inquiries with a view to verifying the
correctness of such certificate.
(3) Any person who obstructs, resists, uses abusive language to, or refuses to answer without sufficient cause or
wilfully makes a false answer to any reasonable inquiry put by any officer authorized by the Registrar for the purpose
of carrying out any inquiry pursuant to this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a
fine at level 1 and 3 months' imprisonment.
(Replaced 1 of 1965 s. 9. Amended L.N. 25 of 1996)
Section: 22 Searches on entries, certified copies, fees, etc. L.N. 452 of 1997 31/10/1997
(1) Any person shall be entitled to require a registrar of the general register office or of a district registry office
to cause a search to be made-
(a) for any given entry over any period not exceeding 5 years, on payment of a fee of $140; (Amended
L.N. 452 of 1997)
(b) for information other than that concerning any given entry, on payment of a fee of $680, (Amended
L.N. 452 of 1997)
and the registrar upon such requirement being made shall cause such search to be made in the indexes of the register
books, the register or the computer record as the registrar may see fit.
(2) (a) Any person shall be entitled, on payment of a fee of $140 or the fee (together with any additional
postage fee) payable under paragraph (b), to require a copy of any entry in the register, certified under
the hand of a registrar as a true copy of the entry and sealed or stamped with the seal or stamp of the
general register office or the district registry office issuing such certified copy. (Amended L.N. 452 of
1997)
(b) If the certified copy is required to be posted to an addressee outside Hong Kong, a fee of $275 shall be
paid, and if the certified copy is required to be sent by airmail, an additional fee shall be paid of an
amount equal to the airmail postage at the normal rate. (Amended L.N. 452 of 1997)
(3) If the particulars of an entry has been recorded in the computer record, the registrar may produce a copy of
such entry by using the information recorded in the computer record, and the copy so produced, if certified by the
registrar and sealed or stamped with the seal or stamp of the office issuing the certified copy as described in
subsection (2)(a), shall be deemed to be a certified copy of such entry in the register.
(4) No person except a registrar and officers specially authorized by the Registrar may search in the indexes of
the register books, the register or the computer record.
(Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 60)
Section: 23 Shortened form of birth certificate L.N. 452 of 1997 31/10/1997
Any person shall, on payment of a fee of $70 and on furnishing the prescribed particulars, be entitled to obtain
from a registrar in the general register office, a shortened form of certificate in the prescribed form of the birth of any
person compiled from the records and registers in the custody of the Registrar.
(18 of 1948 s. 2 incorporated. Amended 40 of 1967 s. 3; 53 of 1974 s. 3; 48 of 1975 s. 5; 67 of 1984 s. 8;
L.N. 73 of 1991; L.N. 196 of 1993; L.N. 362 of 1994; L.N. 241 of 1995; L.N. 283 of 1996; L.N. 452 of
1997)
[cf. 1947 c. 12 U.K.]
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 10
Section: 24 Official seal L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) The Registrar shall cause to be made a seal of the general register office and a seal of each of the district
registry offices and cause to be sealed or stamped-
(a) with the seal or stamp of the general register office all certified copies of any entry in a register given
in the general register office; and
(b) with the seal or stamp of the district registry office all certified copies of any entry in a register given
in that district registry office. (Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 62)
(2) Every entry and every certified copy of an entry in a register shall be received as evidence of the birth or
death to which the entry relates without other or further proof of such entry: (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 62)
Provided that-
(a) no entry made in a post register book prior to 1 January 1972 shall be deemed proof of the birth or
death to which it relates without other or further evidence thereof; and
(b) no certified copy purporting to be issued from the general register office or from a district registry
office shall be of any force or effect unless it is sealed or stamped as aforesaid, and unless the entry to
which it relates either purports to have been signed by some person professing to be the informant and
to be such person as required by this Ordinance to give information to a registrar concerning such birth
or death, or purports to have been made upon a certificate from a coroner or otherwise in pursuance of
the provisions of this Ordinance, or, where more than 12 months have intervened between the day of a
birth or death and the day of the registration of such birth or death, unless it purports to have been
made with the consent and authority of the Registrar. (Amended 57 of 1967 Schedule; 53 of 1972 s. 2;
80 of 1997 s. 62)
(3) In this section, a reference to a certified copy of any entry in a register includes a reference to such a
certified copy that is produced by using the information recorded in the computer record. (Added 8 of 2006 s. 14)
Section: 25 Breach L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
Any person who-
(a) being charged with the duty of registering births or deaths, refuses or, without reasonable excuse,
omits to register any birth or death of which he has had due notice as aforesaid; (Amended 80 of 1997
s. 63)
(b) having the custody of or access to any register or certified copies of any register, carelessly loses or
injures the same, or carelessly allows the same to be injured whilst in his keeping or possession; or
(Replaced 80 of 1997 s. 63)
(c) having the custody of or access to the computer record-
(i) alters any data in the computer record or allows such data to be altered, other than for the
purpose of carrying out duties under this Ordinance;
(ii) carelessly loses or damages any data in the computer record or allows such data to be lost or
damaged; or
(iii) otherwise tampers with the database in the computer record so that the data contained in it or any
part of such data becomes incapable of being retrieved or reproduced in a legible form, (Added
80 of 1997 s. 63. Amended 8 of 2006 s. 15)
shall be deemed to have committed a breach of the provisions of this Ordinance.
Section: 26 (Repealed 48 of 1972 s. 4) 30/06/1997
Section: 27 Correction of errors in register L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) With regard to the correction of errors in registers of births or deaths, the following provisions shall have
effect- (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 64)
(a) no alteration in any such register shall be made except as authorized by this Ordinance;
(b) any clerical error which may be discovered in any such register shall, as soon as possible, be corrected
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 11
by a registrar, who shall place his initials in the margin opposite the entry in which such error has been
discovered;
(c) an error of fact or substance in any such register may be corrected by entry in the margin (without any
alteration of the original entry) by a registrar on payment of the fee of $425 and on production to him
by the person requiring such error to be corrected of a declaration in the prescribed form setting forth
the nature of the error and the true facts of the case, and made by 2 persons required by this Ordinance
to give information concerning the birth or death with reference to which the error has been made, or,
in default of such persons, then by 2 credible persons to the satisfaction of the registrar having
knowledge of the truth of the case, and the registrar shall initial such marginal entry and shall add
thereto the day and month and year when such correction is made; (See Form 19) (Amended 1 of 1965
s. 11; 48 of 1975 s. 6; 67 of 1984 s. 9; 51 of 1986 s. 5; L.N. 73 of 1991; L.N. 196 of 1993; L.N. 362 of
1994; L.N. 241 of 1995; L.N. 283 of 1996; 27 of 1997 s. 72; L.N. 452 of 1997)
(d) where an error of fact or substance (other than an error relating to cause of death) occurs in the
information given to the Registrar by a coroner concerning a dead body upon which he has held an
inquest, or in respect of which he has issued a burial or cremation order-
(i) that coroner or any other coroner may, if satisfied by evidence upon oath or statutory declaration
that such error exists, certify under his hand to the Registrar the nature of the error and the true
facts of the case as ascertained by him on such evidence; and
(ii) the error may thereupon be corrected by the Registrar in the register by entering in the margin
(without any alteration of the original entry) the facts as so certified, and the Registrar shall
initial such marginal entry and shall add thereto the day and month and year when such
correction is made; (Replaced 27 of 1997 s. 72)
(e) where-
(i) an error of fact or substance relating to the cause of death occurs in the information given to the
Registrar by a coroner concerning a dead body upon which he has held an inquest or in respect of
which he has issued a burial or cremation order; and
(ii) that error is a clerical error,
then-
(A) that coroner or any other coroner may certify under his hand to the Registrar the clerical error;
and
(B) the clerical error may thereupon be corrected by the Registrar in the register by entering in the
margin (without any alteration of the original entry) the clerical error as so certified, and the
Registrar shall initial such marginal entry and shall add thereto the day and month and year when
such correction is made; (Added 27 of 1997 s. 72)
(f) where-
(i) an error of fact or substance relating to the cause of death occurs in the information given to the
Registrar by a coroner concerning a dead body upon which he has not held an inquest (including
any case where he has issued a burial or cremation order); and
(ii) that error is not a clerical error,
then-
(A) that coroner, or any other coroner, who subsequently holds an inquest concerning the dead body
may certify under his hand to the Registrar the nature of the error and the true facts of the case as
ascertained by him under the inquest; and
(B) the error may thereupon be corrected by the Registrar in the register by entering in the margin
(without any alteration of the original entry) the facts as so certified, and the Registrar shall
initial such marginal entry and shall add thereto the day and month and year when such
correction is made; (Added 27 of 1997 s. 72)
(g) where it comes to the attention of a coroner holding an inquest (either during the inquest or upon its
conclusion) that an error of fact or substance (including an error relating to cause of death) has
occurred in the information given to the Registrar by a coroner concerning the body of that person
upon which an earlier inquest has been held, or in respect of which a coroner has issued a burial or
cremation order-
(i) that first-mentioned coroner may certify under his hand to the Registrar the nature of the error
and the true facts of the case as ascertained by him under the inquest so ordered; and
(ii) the error may thereupon be corrected by the Registrar in the register by entering in the margin
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 12
(without any alteration of the original entry) the facts as so certified, and the Registrar shall
initial such marginal entry and shall add thereto the day and month and year when such
correction is made. (Added 27 of 1997 s. 72)
(2)-(3) (Repealed 8 of 2006 s. 16)
(4) Any correction of error made under this section on the births register or the death register shall be noted,
using the same wording as that in which such correction is noted in the births register or the deaths register, on the
computer record in the entry in which such error occurs. (Added 80 of 1997 s. 64)
[cf. 1874 c. 88 s. 36 U.K.]
Section: 28 Penalty 30/06/1997
Except where otherwise specially provided by this Ordinance, any person who commits any breach or
infringement of any of the provisions of this Ordinance or fails to perform any duty imposed upon him by this
Ordinance shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1 or to imprisonment for 6 months.
(Amended 22 of 1950 Schedule; L.N. 25 of 1996)
Section: 29 Forms and power to make order and amend the Schedules L.N. 211 of 1998 04/05/1998
Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 71 of 1999 s. 3
(1) The forms prescribed in the Second Schedule shall be used in the cases to which they refer. (Amended 9 of
1957 s. 5)
(2) The Chief Executive may by order published in the Gazette provide for all or any of the following matters-
(a) the form of certificate to be issued under section 23 which shall contain such particulars as may be
prescribed:
Provided that any particulars prescribed in addition to name, surname, sex and date of birth shall
not include any particulars relating to parentage or adoption contained in the records and registers in
the custody of the Registrar;
(b) the particulars to be furnished by applicants for such certificates;
(c) the manner in which such certificates are to be compiled;
(d) the amendment of the Schedules (except Part III of Form 18 in the Second Schedule); and (Amended
27 of 1997 s. 73)
(e) the due carrying out of the Ordinance.
(3) The Chief Executive in Council may, by notice in the Gazette, amend Part III of Form 18 in the Second
Schedule. (Added 27 of 1997 s. 73)
(Replaced 40 of 1967 s. 4. Amended 71 of 1999 s. 3)
Section: 30 Registers formerly kept under former Ordinances 30/06/1997
The registers of births and deaths kept under former Ordinances shall, as hitherto, be preserved by the Registrar,
and all the provisions of this Ordinance relating to entries in registers, alterations of or additions to registers, searches
of registers, copies of entries in registers, custody of registers, or destruction of or injury to registers, and the
provisions of any Ordinance relating to any offences in respect of registers of births or deaths authorized or required to
be kept under this Ordinance, shall mutatis mutandis apply to the said registers kept under former Ordinances:
Provided that it shall be lawful for the Registrar to keep separate supplementary registers in the form of books or
such other form as the Registrar may determine for the purpose of registering the births of any persons who were born
before the commencement of this Ordinance and whose births were not registered in the registers formerly kept under
former Ordinances. (Amended 80 of 1997 s. 66)
Section: 31 Power to alter fees 30/06/1997
The Legislative Council may by resolution vary the amount of any fee specified in this Ordinance.
(Added 51 of 1986 s. 6)
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 13
Section: 32 Disposal of documents when recorded in form of digital
image
L.N. 91 of 2007 27/08/2007
(1) Where-
(a) any signed register form has been recorded in the form of digital image; and
(b) the particulars contained in the form have been recorded in the computer record,
the Registrar may destroy or otherwise dispose of the form, and any microfilm on which it is recorded, in such manner
as he thinks fit.
(2) Where any register book or any part of it has been recorded in the form of digital image, the Registrar may
destroy or otherwise dispose of the register book or such part of it (as the case may be), and any microfilm on which
the register book or such part of it (as the case may be) is recorded, in such manner as he thinks fit.
(Replaced 8 of 2006 s. 17)
Schedule: 1 L.N. 110 of 2003 29/06/2003
[sections 3, 4 & 29]
BIRTH REGISTER OFFICES
District Register Office
1. All districts. The Births and Deaths General Register Office.
2-3. (Repealed L.N. 2 of 1986)
4. Kowloon and Tsuen Wan. Kowloon Births Registry. (Amended L.N. 110 of 2003)
5-7. (Repealed L.N. 110 of 2003)
8. (Repealed L.N. 96 of 1992)
9. Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fanling and Sheung Shui. Sha Tin District Births Registry. (Amended L.N. 96 of
1992; L.N. 110 of 2003)
10. Tuen Mun and Yuen Long. Tuen Mun District Births Registry. (Added L.N. 292 of
1985. Amended L.N. 110 of 2003)
DEATH REGISTER OFFICES
District Register Office
1. All districts. The Births and Deaths General Register Office.
2. (Repealed L.N. 110 of 2003)
3. New Territories. Police Stations at Sha Tin, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Sha Tau
Kok, Ta Kwu Ling, Lok Ma Chau, Pat Heung, Yuen
Long, Lau Fau Shan, Tuen Mun, Sai Kung, Cheung
Chau, Lamma, Mui Wo and Tai O. (Amended L.N. 292
of 1985)
(Replaced L.N. 405 of 1983)
Schedule: 2 6 of 2008 18/04/2008
[section 29]
FORM 1 [section 4(1) & (2)]
Register form of births
出生登記表格
, , Births in the district of , Hong Kong.
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 14
年 月 日，香港 區出生登記。
Registration No.
登記編號
When and where born
出生日期及地點
Name, if any
名字(如有的話)
Sex
性別
Surname and name of father
父親姓名
Maiden surname and name
of mother
母親婚前姓氏及名字
Signature, description and
residence of informant
申報人簽署、身分及住址
When registered
登記日期
Signature of registrar
登記官員簽署
Name, if added after
registration of birth
名字
(如在出生登記後加上)
Status of permanent resident of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region under the
Immigration
Ordinance (Cap 115)
(Established/Not established)
《入境條例》(第115章)
下的香港特別行政區永久性
居民身分
(確定/未確定)
(Replaced L.N. 497 of 1995. Amended 80 of 1997 ss. 68 and 103; L.N. 359 of 1997; 71 of 1999 s. 3; 8 of
2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 2 [section 4(1) & (2)]
Register form of deaths
死亡登記表格
, , Deaths in the district of , Hong Kong.
年 月 日，香港 區死亡登記。
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 15
Registration No.
登記編號
When and where died
死亡日期及地點
Surname and name
姓名
Sex
性別
Age
年齡
Rank, profession, or occupation
and nationality so far as is
known
所知的職位或職業及國籍
Cause of death
死因
Signature, description and
residence of informant
申報人簽署、身分及住址
When registered
登記日期
Signature of registrar
登記官員簽署
(Replaced L.N. 497 of 1995. Amended 80 of 1997 s. 68; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
______________
FORM 3 [section 9(4)]
Certificate of Registration of Birth
出生登記證明書
Registration No.
登記編號
Surname and name of child
出生者姓名
Sex
性別
Date of birth
出生日期
Date registered
登記日期
Maiden surname and
name of mother
母親婚前姓氏及名字
Address at birth
出生時地址
Signature of registrar
登記官員簽署
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 16
This certificate must be produced on demand by a police officer to prove that the name of the person entered has
been registered.
如遇警務人員索閱時，必須將此證明書出示，以證明上述人名已經登記。
NO FEE IS PAYABLE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE.
領取此證明書無須繳費。
(Replaced L.N. 497 of 1995)
_______________
FORM 4 [section 13(1)]
Declaration for altering or adding to the name of a child
I, (Name) .............................................................................................................................
(Address) ............................................................................................................................
(Description) ........................................................................................................................
Parent (or guardian) of the child of ........................................................................................
and .................................................................................................................... whose birth
was registered on the ................... day of .............................................................................,
under the name(s) of ............................................................................................... solemnly
and sincerely declare that I desire
(Strike out
either (a)
or (b) as
required.)
(a) to add the name(s) of ....................................................................
to the above-mentioned name(s).
(b) to alter the above-mentioned name(s)
to .......................................... .........................................................................................
............
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Oaths and
Declarations Ordinance (Cap 11).
(Signed) A.B.
Parent (or Guardian).
Declared at ..................................................................................................... in Hong Kong this .............................. day
of ...........................................................
Before me,
(Signed)
registrar.
(Replaced L.N. 214 of 1974. Amended L.N. 497 of 1994; L.N. 497 of 1995; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 17
FORM 5 [section 13(1)]
Declaration of name of child
I, (Name) .............................................................................................................................
(Address) ............................................................................................................................
(Description) ........................................................................................................................
Parent (or guardian) of the child of .........................................................................................
and ................................................................................................................... whose birth
was registered on the .............. day of...................................................................................
without a name, solemnly and sincerely declare that the said child has received the name(s)
of ............................................................................................................................................
and that I desire that the said name(s) shall be added to the register.
And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Oaths and
Declarations Ordinance (Cap 11).
(Signed) A.B.
Parent (or Guardian).
Declared at ..................................................................................................... in Hong Kong this .......................... day
of ....................................................
Before me,
(Signed)
registrar.
(Replaced L.N. 214 of 1974. Amended L.N. 497 of 1994; L.N. 497 of 1995; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 6 [section 13(2)]
Certificate of registration of alteration of name of child
I, A.B., Registrar [or deputy or district registrar] of Births and Deaths, do hereby certify that the name [or
names] of by
which a child of one C.D. and E.F. was registered on the day
of , , has [or have] been altered to and that such alteration has been
entered in the register.
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., a registrar of births and deaths.
Fee $110.
(Amended 9 of 1957 s. 3; 1 of 1965 s. 12; 48 of 1975 s. 7; 67 of 1984 s. 10; 51 of 1986 s. 7; L.N. 497 of 1995;
80 of 1997 s. 68; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 18
FORM 7 [section 13(2)]
Certificate of registration of name of child
I, A.B., Registrar [or deputy or district registrar] of Births and Deaths, do hereby certify that the name [or
names] of has
[or have] been given to the child of one C.D. and E.F. whose birth was registered on
the day of , and that such name or names has [or have] been entered in the
register.
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., a registrar of births and deaths.
Fee $110.
(Amended 9 of 1957 s. 3; 1 of 1965 s. 12; 48 of 1975 s. 7; 67 of 1984 s. 10; 51 of 1986 s. 7; L.N. 497 of 1995;
80 of 1997 s. 68; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 8 [section 16(1)]
Permit for removal and burial of dead body
Permission is hereby given to of to remove
and bury the dead body of one called from the floor of
No. , to
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) Officer in charge.
No. Police station.
No fee is payable for this permit.
(Amended L.N. 51 of 1974; L.N. 497 of 1994; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 9 [section 16(2)]
Permit for removal of dead body from Hong Kong
Permission is hereby given to of to remove
from Hong Kong the dead body of one called .
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., a registrar of births and deaths.
No fee is payable for this permit.
(Amended L.N. 51 of 1974; 67 of 1984 s. 10; L.N. 497 of 1994; L.N. 497 of 1995; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 19
FORM 10 [section 17(1)]
Certificate of Registration of Death
I, A.B., a registrar of deaths in the district of , do hereby certify that the death
of has been duly registered by me on the day of , .
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., a registrar of births and deaths.
No fee is payable for this certificate
(Amended L.N. 497 of 1994; L.N. 497 of 1995; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 11 [section 17(1)]
Certificate of order authorizing burial/cremation of body
I, A.B., a coroner for Hong Kong, hereby certify that I have made an order authorizing the burial/cremation of
the body now shown/reported to me as the body of .
Dated this day of , .
...................................................................
Coroner
(Replaced L.N. 2 of 1968. Amended 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 12 [section 17(2)]
Certificate of Registration of Death
死亡登記證明書
Registration No.
登記編號
Surname and name of
deceased person
死者姓名
Sex
性別
Age
年齡
Date of death
死亡日期
Date registered
登記日期
Address at death
死亡時地址
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 20
Signature of registrar
登記官員簽署
This certificate must be produced on demand by a police officer to prove that the name of the person entered has
been registered.
如遇警務人員索閱時，必須將此證明書出示，以證明上述人名已經登記。
NO FEE IS PAYABLE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE.
領取此證明書無須繳費。
(Replaced L.N. 497 of 1995)
_______________
FORM 13 [section 18(a)]
Certificate of still-birth
I, A.B., registered medical practitioner in Hong Kong, hereby certify that I was in attendance at the birth of the
child of Mrs. C.D. [or have examined the body of the child of Mrs. C.D.] and that such child was not born alive.
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., Registered medical practitioner.
(Amended 67 of 1984 s. 10; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 14
(Repealed 47 of 1997 s. 10)
_______________
FORM 15 [section 19]
Notice where coffin contains more than one body
I, A.B., hereby give you notice that in the coffin in which C.D. is brought for burial there is the body of E.F., a
male [or female] lately residing at No. .
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., Undertaker [or person in charge of funeral].
(Amended 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 16 [section 19]
Notice where coffin contains more than one body
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 21
I, A.B., hereby give you notice that in the coffin in which C.D. is brought for burial there is a body which has
been found exposed and that the name and place of abode of the person whose body has been found are unknown.
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., Undertaker [or person in charge of funeral].
(Amended 8 of 2006 s. 18)
_______________
FORM 17 [section 19]
Notice where coffin also contains the body of a child
I, A.B., hereby give you notice that in the coffin in which C.D. is brought for burial there is the body of a
deceased child, name unknown [or of a still-born child] and the name and place of abode of the father [or mother] of
such child are and No.
Dated the day of , .
(Signed.) A.B., Undertaker [or person in charge of funeral].
(Amended 8 of 2006 s. 18)
(M.D. 854) FORM 18 [section 20(a)]
Counterfoil for
the use of the
Medical Attendant,
who should in all
cases fill it up.
BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE
(Chapter 174)
PART I
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF
THE CAUSE OF DEATH
No. of
corresponding
entry in register
form of deaths to
be inserted here by
the registrar.
To be given by the medical attendant to the person whose duty
it is to give it, with information of the death,
to a registrar and to no other person
____
Name of
Deceased ............
Age ....................
Last seen ...........
Died on ..............
At ......................
___________
I HEREBY CERTIFY that I attended ............................. during the last illness; that such person's age was
stated to be ................. that I last saw h ........... on the ............. day of .............................; that ...................
died* ................ on the ...............day of..........................; at ......................... and that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief the cause of h ............... death was as hereunder written. An anaesthetic,
namely ............................... was administered+ ............... before the death of ........................... (or, if such
was the case: No anaesthetic was administered before the death of ....................................................) ............
Deceased's
nationality .......
* Should the medical attendant not feel justified in taking upon himself the responsibility of certifying
the fact of death, he may here insert the words "as I am informed."
+ Insert here how long before death the anaesthetic was administered.
Deceased's
profession ..........
CAUSE OF DEATH
Approximate interval
between onset and
death
Deceased's
address ...............
I. Disease or condition
directly leading to
death.++
(a) ..........................................
due to (or as a consequence of)
(b) ..........................................
.................................
(The Informant should
read Parts II and III of
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 22
CAUSE OF DEATH
(a) .....................
due to (or as a
consequence of)
Antecedent causes
Morbid conditions, if
any giving rise to the
above cause, stating
the underlying
condition last.
due to (or as a consequence of)
(c) .........................................
.................................
.................................
this form.)
(b) .....................
due to (or as a
consequence of)
(c) .....................
Other significant
conditions
II. Other significant
conditions
contributing to
the deaths, but
not related to the
disease or
condition causing
it.
...................................
...................................
........................
.........................
++ This does not mean the mode of dying e.g., heart failure, asthenia, etc. It means the
disease, injury, or complication which caused death.
.................... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deceased's nationality ....................... Dated, the ............... day of .......................................
" profession ........................ Signature .....................................................................
" address ............................. Registered qualification ............................................
.................... " place of death .................. Residence ...................................................................
Signed ................
Date ..................
N.B.-THIS CERTIFICATE IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR THE USE OF THE REGISTRAR to
whom it should be delivered by the person giving information to him of the particulars required by law to
be registered concerning the death. Fine of $1000 or 6 months' imprisonment for neglect of informant to
deliver this certificate to the registrar or a district registrar.
The Registrar of Births and Deaths cautions all persons against accepting or using this certificate for
any purpose whatever except that of delivering it to himself or a district registrar.
[OVER]
PART II
NOTICE-DUTIES UNDER THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS
REGISTRATION ORDINANCE (CAP 174)
By section 20 of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance, Chapter 174, it is enacted that whenever a
registered medical practitioner has been in attendance during the last illness of a deceased person such practitioner
shall, subject to the following qualification, sign and give to a qualified informant of the death a certificate of the
cause of death, and including a statement as to whether any, and if so what, anaesthetic was administered during the
said illness. The qualification is that the said practitioner shall not sign the certificate unless he has personally viewed
the body of that person and is satisfied that death has occurred or, if the death has occurred in a hospital, he has
received a notice from another registered medical practitioner stating that the other practitioner has personally viewed
that body and is satisfied that death has occurred. The informant is bound to deliver the certificate to a registrar.
Persons qualified to be informants for the registration of the death, and to whom
only this certificate should be given-
1 A RELATIVE of the deceased present at the death.
2 A RELATIVE of the deceased in attendance during the last illness.
3 A person present at the death.
4 A person in attendance during the last illness.
5 The occupier of the house in which the death occurred.
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 23
6 An inmate of the house in which the death occurred.
7 The person causing the body of the deceased to be buried.
Penalty for failing to give information within the 24 hours (in which travelling time and general holidays as defined by
the General Holidays Ordinance (Chapter 149) shall not be included) next following death is $1000 fine or 6
months' imprisonment.
Informants must be prepared to state accurately to the registrar or a district registrar the following particulars-
(1) the date and place of death;
(2) the surname and full names of deceased;
(3) the correct age of deceased; and
(4) the rank, profession, or occupation of deceased and nationality so far as is known. [If deceased is a child or
an unmarried person without occupation or property the full names and rank or profession of the father will
be required (except in the case of illegitimate children); if a wife or widow those of the husband or deceased
husband.]
_______________
PART III
NOTICE-DUTIES UNDER THE CORONERS
ORDINANCE (Cap 504)
1. By section 4 of, and Part 2 of Schedule 1 to, the Coroners Ordinance (Cap 504), it is enacted that where the
death to which a certificate of the cause of death relates is a reportable death within the meaning of that
Ordinance, the registered medical practitioner who-
(a) signs that certificate;
(b) if no such certificate is so signed, attended the deceased during his last illness,
comes under a duty to make a report of that death to the coroner as soon as is reasonably practicable after it
comes to the knowledge of the practitioner that the death is a reportable death and submit a copy of the
report to the Commissioner of Police at the same time.
2. The various types of reportable deaths are specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Coroners Ordinance (Cap
504). They are-
(1) Any death of a person where a registered medical practitioner is unable to accurately state the
medical cause of the death in the certificate of the cause of death.
(2) Any death of a person (excluding a person who, before his death, was diagnosed as having a
terminal illness) where no registered medical practitioner has attended the person during his last
illness within 14 days prior to his death.
(3) Any death of a person where an accident or injury (sustained at any time) caused the death.
(4) Any death of a person where a crime or suspected crime caused the death.
(5) Any death of a person where-
(a) an anaesthetic caused the death;
(b) the person was under the influence of a general anaesthetic at the time of the death; or
(c) the death occurred within 24 hours after the administering of a general anaesthetic.
(6) Any death of a person where-
(a) an operation, whether or not lawful, caused the death; or
(b) the death occurred within 48 hours after a major operation (as determined in accordance
with prevailing medical practice), whether or not lawful.
(7) Any death of a person where-
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 24
(a) the death was caused by-
(i) an occupational disease, within the meaning of section 3 of the Employees'
Compensation Ordinance (Cap 282); or
(ii) pneumoconiosis, or mesothelioma, within the meaning of section 2(1) of the
Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance (Cap 360), or both
of those diseases; or
(b) having regard to the nature of the last illness of the person, the medical cause of the
death and the nature of any known occupation or employment, or previous occupation
or employment, of the person, it is reasonable to believe that the death may be
connected, either directly or indirectly, with any such occupation or employment.
(8) Any still birth where-
(a) there is doubt as whether the still born foetus was alive or dead at the time of birth; or
(b) there is a suspicion that the still birth might not have been a still birth but for the wilful
act or neglect of any person.
(9) Any death of a woman where the death occurred within 30 days after-
(a) the birth of her child;
(b) an operation of abortion, whether or not lawful; or
(c) a miscarriage.
(10) Any death of a deceased where-
(a) septicaemia caused the death; and
(b) the primary cause of the septicaemia is unknown.
(11) Any death of a person where there is a suspicion the death was caused by suicide.
(12) Any death of a person where the death occurred whilst the person was in official custody.
(13) Any death of a person where the death occurred during the course of the discharge of his duty by
a person having statutory powers of arrest or detention.
(14) Any death of a person where the death occurred in the premises of a department of the
Government any public officer of which has statutory powers of arrest or detention.
(15) Any death of a person where the person-
(a) is a patient, within the meaning of section 2 of the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap 136),
and the death occurs in a mental hospital within the meaning of that section; or
(b) is a patient the subject of an order under section 31 or 36 of that Ordinance and the
death occurs in a hospital other than such a mental hospital.
(16) Any death of a person where the death occurred in any premises in which the care of persons is
carried on for reward or other financial consideration (other than in any premises which comprise
a hospital, nursing home or maternity home registered under the Hospitals, Nursing Homes and
Maternity Homes Registration Ordinance (Cap 165)).
(17) Any death of a person where the death was caused by homicide.
(18) Any death of a person where the death was caused by the administering of a drug or poison by
any other person.
(19) Any death of a person where ill-treatment, starvation or neglect caused the death.
(20) Any death of a person which occurred outside Hong Kong where the body of the person is
brought into Hong Kong.
3. Subject to certain defences, under the Coroners Ordinance (Cap 504), a registered medical practitioner who
fails to discharge the duty referred to in paragraph 1 commits an offence under that Ordinance and may
thereby render himself liable to a fine at level 1 and to 14 days imprisonment under that Ordinance.
(Replaced G.N.A. 318 of 1948. Amended 9 of 1957 s. 3; L.N. 214 of 1974 ; L.N. 497 of 1995; 27 of 1997 s. 74.
Part III added 27 of 1997 s. 74. Amended 80 of 1997 s. 68; 35 of 1998 s. 5; 21 of 1999 s. 28; 8 of 2006 s. 18; 6
of 2008 s. 43)
_________________
FORM 19 [section 27(c)]
Declaration for correction of error in register
Cap 174 - BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 25
We, A.B., of ................................................................................................................
and C.D., of .........................................................................................................................
solemnly and sincerely declare that when the birth (or death) of E.F. was registered on the ................. day
of ....................................., the following errors of fact or substance occurred in the register, viz.,
(here set forth the error or errors).
And we further solemnly and sincerely declare that the true facts of the case are as follows:-
(here set forth the true facts).
And we make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Oaths
and Declarations Ordinance (Cap 11).
(Signed) A.B.
C.D.
Declared at ..................................................................................................... in Hong Kong this ..................... day
of .....................................
Before me,
(Signed)
registrar.
(Replaced L.N. 214 of 1974. Amended L.N. 497 of 1994; L.N. 497 of 1995; 8 of 2006 s. 18)
