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MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1979
SWD PROCESSED 421 LEGAL ADOPTION CASES LAST FISCAL YEAR ******
THE ADOPTION UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROCESSED 421 LEGAL ADOPTION CASES LAST FISCAL YEAR ABOUT 15 PER CENT MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
OF THESE. 41 WERE ADOPTED CHILDREN MATCHED TO APPLICANTS BY THE UNIT AND 380 BY PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CHILDREN'S PARENTS.
MRS. IRENE SIH, HEAD OF THE UNIT, SAID THE INCREASE COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL FACTORS.
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HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE OPEN-MINDED AND WILLING TO ADOPT CHILDREN,
MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE ADOPTION UNIT, AND
* THE INCREASE IN DIVORCES AND RE-MARRIAGES IS LEADING TO
THE NECESSITY OF LEGALISING THE STATUS OF STEP-CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY.
EXPLAINING THE ADOPTION PROCEDURE, MRS. SIH SAID INTEND ING APPLICANTS MUST BE LEGALLY MARRIED, AGED AT LEAST 25 OR IN THE CASE OF A RELATIVE, AGED 21, AND BE IN GOOD HEALTH.
THE APPLICANTS SHOULD POSSESS SUFFICIENT INCOME TO SUPPORT THE CHILD AND TO MAKE REASONABLE PROVISION FOR THE CHILD'S FUTURE. PREFERENCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE CHINESE APPLICANTS AND TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN.
APPLICATIONS ARE PROCESSED BY AN OFFICER OF THE UNIT WHO WOULD CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INCLUDING HOME VISITS TO ASSESS THE APPLICANTS' MOTIVATION AND CAPABILITY AS ADOPTIVE PARENTS.
IF THE APPLICANTS SUCCEED IN FULFILLING THESE REQUIREMENTS, A CHILD AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION IS THEN PLACED UNDER THEIR TEMPORARY CARE AND CUSTODY FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS.
DURING THIS PERIOD, OFFICERS OF THE UNIT WILL VISIT THE CHILD AND HIS ADOPTIVE PARENTS TO ASSESS THE PROGRESS OF ADAPTABILITY.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MAKING OF THE ADOPTION ORDER WILL BE MADE TO COURT AFTER THE MINIMUM INITIAL PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS IF THE ADOPTION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST.
ADOPTIONS BY COURT ORDERS ENABLE AN ADOPTED CHILD TO ENJOY ALL THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS THE ADOPTER'S OWN CHILD AND IT IS THE ONLY FORM OF LEGAL ADOPTION IN HONG KONG AFTER CHINESE CUSTOMARY ADOPTION BECAME OBSOLETE IN 1972.
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