Hong Kong Ordinances

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE - SECT 62

Interpretation and transitional provisions

(1) In this Part, "country" (國家) includes a colony or other dependent
territory of the United Kingdom but for the purposes of this Part a person
shall be treated as a national of such a colony or dependent territory only if
it has a law of citizenship or nationality separate from that of the United
Kingdom and he is a citizen or national of that colony or dependent territory
under that law.

(2) The provisions of this Part relating to overseas divorces and 
legal separations and other divorces and legal separations obtained outside
Hong Kong apply to a divorce or legal separation obtained before 1 April 1972
as well as to one obtained on or after that date and, in the case of a divorce
or legal separation obtained before that date-

   (a)  require, or, as the case may be, preclude, the recognition of its
        validity in relation to any time before that date as well as in
        relation to any subsequent time; but

   (b)  do not affect any property rights to which any person became entitled
        before that date or apply where the question of the validity of the
        divorce or legal separation has been decided by the court before that
        date. [cf. 1971 c. 53 s. 10(3) & (4) U.K.] (Part IX added 11 of 1972
        s. 2)

"country" (國家)