BEIJING, Dec. 22 (Xinhua)-- Beijing couples used to queue for several hours to complete marriage registration procedures. But, as of next year, waiting time may be reduced to a matter of minutes for couples who make an online reservation in advance.

    Haidian district has been chosen as the pilot district for the new system. Couples can log on to the marriage registration website www.bjmzj.gov.cn/bjmzj to fill in their personal information and book a day to go to the marriage registry, where they will make a vow and get their marriage certificate, the Beijing Morning Post reported on Friday.

    Ding Zhiming, director of the Haidian Bureau of Civil Affairs, said the online part will cover 80 percent of the whole registration procedure. Couples' application materials can be reviewed online, cutting the time they need to spend at the registry to less than ten minutes.

    Ding said a special window will be opened for couples who have made online registrations.

    The new system will be extended to the whole city if the trial in Haidian proves successful.

    Marriage registration became quicker and easier in China when new regulations did away with compulsory pre-marital physical check-ups in 2003. The network of marriage registration offices, which covers 97 percent of Chinese territory, encourages couples in remote rural areas to legalize their marriages.