Hong Kong Regulations

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (DECREE ABSOLUTE) GENERAL ORDER - PARAGRAPH 1

WHEREAS it is provided by section 15(5) of the Matrimonial Causes  Ordinance
Cap. 179, that every decree for divorce shall in the first instance be a
decree nisi not to be made absolute until after the expiration of three months
from the pronouncing thereof, unless the Chief Justice by general order, or
the Court in any particular case, fixes a shorter period:

AND WHEREAS it is expedient that for the said period of three months there
should now be substituted a period of six weeks:

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 15(5) of the
Matrimonial Causes Ordinance Cap 179, it is hereby ordered as follows-

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Matrimonial Causes (Decree Absolute)
General Order, and shall come into operation on 3rd day of July 1973, but
shall not apply to proceedings commenced before that date.

(2) In this Order a decree means a decree of divorce or nullity of marriage.

2. In relation to any decree nisi granted after the coming into operation of
this Order the period of three months specified in section  15 (5) of the
Matrimonial Causes Ordinance ( Cap 179) shall be reduced to six weeks and
accordingly the decree shall not be made absolute until the expiration of six
weeks from its grant unless the Court in any particular case fixes a shorter
period.