12
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1986
+
THIS ARRANGEMENT WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE MOTHERS CONCERNED HAD DECIDED TO GIVE UP THEIR BABIES EVEN BEFORE BIRTH AND THERE WERE SUITABLE ADOPTIVE PARENTS AVAILABLE, SHE SAID.
ON OVERSEAS ADOPTION, SHE SAID THAT THE SERVICE WAS ALSO REVIEWED RECENTLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE (ISS) WITH A VIEW TO RECRUITING MORE HOMES AND TO EFFECT EARLIER ADOPTION PLACEMENTS.
+WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEED UP THE AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME FROM THE PREVIOUS 24 MONTHS TO AROUND 15 MONTHS FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, THOUGH MORE DIFFICULT CASES MAY REQUIRE A LONGER TIME.
+SOME 78 NEW HOMES WERE RECRUITED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS REPRESENTING A 28 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE 61 HOMES RECRUITED IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1985, + SHE SAID.
NOTING THAT THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM OF APPLICATIONS FROM OVERSEAS CHINESE FAMILIES, MRS CHAN SAID IT WAS INTENDED TO CONDUCT A SURVEY OF POSSIBLE DEMANDS FROM OVERSEAS CHINESE TO ADOPT FROM HONG KONG.
+ ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD TO PLACE HIM OR HER WITH ADOPTIVE PARENTS WHO SHARE THE SAME CULTURE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND,+ SHE SAID.
+WE ARE ALSO LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE PRESENT SERVICE NETWORK TO COUNTRIES IN EUROPE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ADOPTION OUTLETS FOR OUR HOMELESS CHILDREN, SHE ADDED.
EARLIER IN HER SPEECH, MRS CHAN OUTLINED THE PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTION IN HONG KONG.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT ADOPTION IN HONG KONG FELL BROADLY INTO TWO CATEGORIES ADOPTION OF ORPHANED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN AND CHILDREN GIVEN UP BY THEIR PARENTS, WHO ARE MADE WARDS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, AND ADOPTION BY PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT.
FOR ABANDONED CHILDREN, SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE PROCEDURE WOULD INVOLVE TRACING THE PARENTS THROUGH RADIO BROADCAST AND PRESS RELEASES. IN THE CASE OF AN ILLEGITMATE CHILD, IT WOULD INVOLVE HELPING THE UNMARRIED PARENT OR PARENTS TO ASSESS THEIR ABILITY TO CARE FOR THE CHILD AS WELL AS OTHER ALTERNATIVES BEFORE MAKING THEIR DECISION TO SIGN OFF THE CHILD FOR ADOPTION,
IN 1985-86, SOME 140 OF THESE CHILDREN CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES. AMONG THEM, LESS. THAN 20 WERE ABANDONED WHILE THE MAJORITY WERE SIGNED OFF BY THEIR UNMARRIED MOTHERS.
/+WHEN PROCEDURES