hearing, the natural parents decided in a number of cases not to gì.. their final consent, while in others the children failed to adjust them- selves to their new homes. Statistics are summarized at Appendix 3.
24. Adoption in accordance with Chinese Custom has always been recognized in Hong Kong. In the past, Government gave its attention mainly to preventing abuses in the adoption of girls, as being more liable to exploitation. Boys are usually adopted in order to perpetuate the family whereas girls were in the past adopted more often than not as 'daughters' to work in the house. The adoption of female children otherwise than by Court Order has by law to be registered with the Department and legal guardianship vests in the Director of Social Welfare; whereas registration of adopted sons is voluntary. At the end of March, 1958 1,832 adopted daughters and 1,481 adopted sons were thus registered, an increase of twenty eight and seventy respectively over the previous year's figures. (See Appendix 4).
25. A considerable number of children, mostly orphans or children abandoned by their parents, emigrate for adoption abroad, chiefly in the United States of America. The Refugee Relief Act of 1953 expired at the end of 1956, but under an amendment to the United States Immigration and Nationality Act which passed into law on 11th September, 1957 it is again possible to place Hong Kong orphans in America. The International Social Service Incorporated, a body which specializes in arranging such adoptions and has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, opened a branch office in Hong Kong in March, 1958, after a preliminary visit by Miss Florence Boester, its Far East Representative, and a number of cases were in train at the end of the year. Government is co-operating closely with the I.S.S. branch office, by the loan of staff from the Child Welfare Section and in other ways, and it is expected that a considerable number of orphans will be adopted into American homes under this programme.
26. Under the provisions of the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, the Director of Social Welfare exercises powers of super- vision, etc. on behalf of children in need of care and protection; these include children who have been ill-treated or have been found wander- ing by the police, infants who have been abandoned by their parents and children whose parents or guardians are unfit to look after them properly. Cases of serious ill-treatment are normally brought before the court whilst those of mild ill-treatment are often dealt with by the Department. During the year, twenty two female children were declared wards and eighteen orders vesting legal guardianship of male children
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