- (c) freely and voluntarily desire to dissolve the marriage,
he shall sign the prescribed form in duplicate and deliver one copy to each of the parties.
Functions of designated public officer. 18. For the purposes of section 17, a designated public officer—
- (a) shall interview each of the parties to a marriage appearing before him in the presence of each other and also in the absence of each other, and no other person, except an interpreter (should one be necessary), shall be present at any such interview;
- (b) may require the parties or either of them to appear before him again on some specified occasion or occasions;
- (c) may require the parties or either of them to furnish such further information as he may reasonably require.
Memorandum of dissolution of marriage. 19. (1) The parties to a marriage may, within one month of the delivery to them under section 17 of the prescribed forms by a designated public officer, sign, in Hong Kong in the presence of each other and in the presence of two other adult persons who shall also sign as attesting witnesses, an agreement or memorandum in writing for the dissolution of the marriage unequivocally with effect from registration under section 20.
(2) An agreement or memorandum for the dissolution of a marriage, signed and witnessed in the manner required by subsection (1), shall have the effect, as from registration under section 20 of dissolving the marriage.
Registration of memorandum for dissolution of marriage. 20. The parties to an agreement or memorandum for the dissolution of a marriage signed under and in accordance with section 19 shall, within fourteen days from the date of signature or such longer period as the designated public officer before whom the parties appeared under section 17 may for special reasons in any particular case permit, register, either personally or through their duly authorized agent, particulars of the agreement or memorandum for dissolution of marriage with the designated public officer before whom the parties appeared under section 17; and that officer shall endorse on the agreement or memorandum a record of registration under this section.
Register of dissolutions of marriage. 21. (1) The Secretary for Home Affairs shall maintain a register for the registration of dissolutions of marriage effected under section 19.
