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