Parents will soon be required to declare the race of their
newborns during birth registration.
With effect from 2nd January 2010, they will need to fill in an
additional field under "Race" in the Birth Report Form.
In a statement, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority says this
offers parents of mixed race marriages the flexibility and choice
to decide and declare their child's race upon birth.
For example, a Caucasian-Chinese couple may choose to have the race
of their child recorded as Caucasian, Chinese or
Eurasian.
But if parents are unable to decide on the child's race during
birth registration, the race will be recorded provisionally to
follow that of the father.
This is until the child turns 15 years old and is required to
register for an identity card.
Parents may still change the child's race in the ICA's record at any time before their
child turns 15.
The option to amend the child's race in the ICA's record can be processed at the
ICA Building or at the child's school.
Any change will be effected only with the consent of both
parents.
--938Live