these children were already admitted into the families of their adopters before adoption. Of the 2,278 children adopted since the Adoption Ordinance came into force, 665 were under two years old, 180 two years old, and 315 three to four years old. Thus 1,160, or more than half of the total number of children adopted, were under five years old when adopted. The remaining 1,118 were distributed among the age groups as follows, 5-9 534, 10-14 360, and 15-20 224. The adopters in all three classifications, namely, joint adopters, sole male and sole female adopters, fall mainly in 1971 into the category of no stated relationship.
194. A comparison of the statistics for the last five years (1967-71) with those for the five years before that (1962-65) reveals, in addition to the trends noted in paragraph 193, that:
(1) the majority of adopters in both periods were joint adopters, and (2) although there were increases in the numbers of adoptions of children both related and unrelated to the adopters, the increase was much greater in the case of persons adopting children of their own or children otherwise related to them, as follows:
First 5 years (1.1.62-31.12.66)
Last 5 years (1.1.67-31.12.71)
Adopted Children
With Relationship
Without Relationship
151
510
487
607
Compilation of Vital Statistics
195. The Births and Deaths Registry is responsible for the compila- tion of vital statistics for the Colony. The Hollerith system is used for compiling statistics of mortality, and information is recorded by means of punched cards covering 16 separate items. From 1st January 1969 the compilation of statistics was expanded to cover information relating to births, and this information, which includes 25 separate items, is recorded in separate statistical forms and coding sheets for card punching and data processing by computer. The Department maintains close liaison in this work with the Medical and Health Department, the Census and Statistics Department and the Organizational Surveys Unit of the Secretariat.
Fees
196. The fees collected during the financial year amounted to $296,223. Particulars are given in Table XLIV.
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