Name change...

newsense · 01-01-2011, 07:46 PM

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but hopefully somebody can help me! I recently got married to a Hong Kong citizen at a registry in HK. We were assuming on the day my wife would be asked whether she wished to change her surname after marriage, but when we raised this point with them, they just looked at us blankly and didn't really seem to know what we were asking!!

Can anyone suggest how we can go about changing her name??

Thanks!

PDLM · 01-01-2011, 07:55 PM

As I understand it, most people don't change their name when they get married in Hong Kong. My wife didn't see any point, and neither did I given the hassle involved.

For changing her name as far as the HK authorities are concerned then start here: http://www.immd.gov.hk/pdforms/rop73.pdf and attach a copy of the marriage certificate in support.

Obviously, changing the name on documents issued by other countries will depend on which countries are involved.

bryant.english · 01-01-2011, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by newsense:

You'll have to excuse my ignorance, but hopefully somebody can help me! I recently got married to a Hong Kong citizen at a registry in HK. We were assuming on the day my wife would be asked whether she wished to change her surname after marriage, but when we raised this point with them, they just looked at us blankly and didn't really seem to know what we were asking!!

Can anyone suggest how we can go about changing her name??

Thanks!

Your marriage certificate is enough to get a new HKID and passport/bank cards, etc. You can also see a solicitor for a deed poll, I guess around 1000HKD but should not be necessary, your marriage certificate is fine. I am British and got married to my HK wife when we were living in Denmark. They also looked at us blankly. My wife wasn't surprised as it's not normal here in HK either. In fact, I soon found out that the tradition of the wife taking the husband's surname at marriage is actually quite unusual by world standards and that only in English speaking countries will people question if you're really married if you have different surnames. Anyway, in the end we didn't bother going through the considerable hassle and expense of changing my wife's name and it has never caused us any bother!

Morrison · 01-01-2011, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by bryant.english:

............... In fact, I soon found out that the tradition of the wife taking the husband's surname at marriage is actually quite unusual by world standards and that only in English speaking countries will people question if you're really married if you have different surnames........

The indigenous of the landmass to the south of England have quite similar customs.
Although in many tribal jurisdictions new laws have been introduced that allow the bride to keep her maiden name.

Skyhook · 01-01-2011, 08:38 PM

Ditto the above, but when we had children I actually adopted a Chinese name, added to my HKID that matches my childrens, so we have both my European surname, first names, as well as our Chinese names in traditional Chinese listed above. I did this because I feel happily assimilated into HK Chinese society, to be comfy enough doing it. .

bryant.english · 02-01-2011, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by Morrison:

The indigenous of the landmass to the south of England have quite similar customs.
Although in many tribal jurisdictions new laws have been introduced that allow the bride to keep her maiden name.

The Isle of Wight?