HONG KONG
LEGAL REPORT
Enclosure No. 2
THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1987
(No. 13 of 1987)
The main objects of this Ordinance are to amend the Adoption Ordinance
(a)
(b)
to provide that all adoption applications may be heard in the District Court, and to define the circumstances in which such applications may be transferred to the High Court; and
to streamline the existing procedure for adoption.
2. The new section 4A in section 2 of this Ordinance gives effect to (a) above. Since the validity of adoption orders made by the District Court after dispensing with the consent of a parent or guardian. required under section 5(5) (a) of the principal
Ordinance is in question, the new section 5C in section 4 of this Ordinance provides that such adoption orders are not invalid for that reason.
3. The new section 5A in section 4 of this Ordinance enables the Director of Social Welfare to obtain an order from a Court freeing an infant for adoption, and the new section 5B provides for the revocation of any such order.
4. Before the Acting Governor assented to the Bill in the name and on behalf of Her Majesty, the Acting Attorney General advised that he could properly do so.
April 1987.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS,
HONG KONG
the
Mal
Law Draftsman.