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C. Validity of Marriage

A marriage means a voluntary union for life of one man with one woman to the exclusion of all others. All marriages celebrated under the Marriage Ordinance (Cap. 181) shall be good and valid in law to all intents and purposes. A marriage may be null and void on a number of grounds, for example,

  1. the married parties are of kindred or affinity;
  2. the marriage is not celebrated in a marriage registry by the Registrar of Marriages, by a competent minister in a licensed place of worship or by a civil celebrant;
  3. the marriage is celebrated under a false name;
  4. no Certificate of Registrar of Marriages has been issued and both parties knowingly and wilfully acquiesce in its celebration in such circumstances;
  5. the marriage is not between a male and a female;
  6. the parties are already married at the time of marriage; or
  7. at the time of its celebration any party is under 16 years of age.

For marriage validly and duly celebrated in foreign country between two persons domiciled in that country, such marriage would be accepted as valid in Hong Kong provided that such marriage would be valid if celebrated in Hong Kong.