Second Reading Closing Speech by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, on the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures For Solemnization And Registration Of Marriages) Bill in Parliament

​Second Reading Opening Speech by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, on the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures For Solemnization And Registration Of Marriages) Bill in Parliament

The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures for Solemnization and Registration of Marriages) Bill was passed in Parliament on 5 May 2020 to allow civil and Muslim marriage solemnizations and registrations to be conducted using video link.​

​The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) have concluded our assessment of all the feedback received, via a six-week- long public consultation, on the recommendations submitted by the Committee to Review and Enhance Reforms in the Family Justice System (RERF Committee) in September 2019. There was wide support for many of the recommendations, especially in the areas of early support for couples facing divorce, and enhancements to the family justice system.

​Section 126 of the Women’s Charter allows the Court to make a care and control order subject to any conditions as it thinks fit to impose, including the place where the child is to reside. 

​The Ministry of Social and Family Development has appointed two new Divorce Support Specialist Agencies (DSSAs) – Thrive Parenting! and Healing Hearts @ Fei Yue – to better support families undergoing divorce with specialised services and programmes. 

​The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) have received recommendations from the Committee to Review and Enhance Reforms in the Family Justice System (RERF Committee).