XN000022-1974-10-01 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1974

CITING THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AS AN EXAMPLE, SHE SAID AN ADOPTED CHILD COULD NOT BE ADDED INTO THE TENANCY UNLESS A LEGAL PAPER COULD VERIFY THE ADOPTED CHILD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE RECENT REQUIREMENT OF CHILDREN TO OBTAIN THE NEW JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS. THIS CALLS FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE ADOPTERS TO LEGALISE THE ADOPTION BY LOCAL COURT ORDER BEFORE THE CHILDREN CAN CLAIM THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.+

WHATEVER THE REASON, THE GROVING NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS HAS

CREATED A STAFF PROBLEM FOR THE ADOPTION UNIT.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SEVEN ASSISTANT SOCIAL WELFARE

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OFFICERS IN THE UNIT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERIENCED OFFICER. EACH OF THESE OFFICERS WAS HANDLING 70 CASES AT THE END OF AUGUST, DOUBLE THE ESTIMATED WORK LOAD. FOR THIS REASON, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, IT NOW TOOK TWICE AS LONG TO COMPLETE A CASE -- ABOUT A YEAR INSTEAD OF THE USUAL SIX MONTHS. HOWEVER, IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES 'THE PERIOD HAY BE SHORTENED.

THE DUTIES OF THESE OFFICERS, BETTER KNOWN AS ADOPTION WORKERS, ARE TO ASSIST APPLICANTS TO UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED. THEY ALSO VISIT AND INTERVIEW APPLICANTS

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXECUTION OF AN ADOPTION ORDER IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD.

SOMETIMES, IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES, THE ADOPTION WORKERS HAVE TO TRAVEL TO REMOTE PARTS OF HONG KONG TO SEE FOR THEMSELVES FAMILY RELATIONSHIP AND INTER-ACTION BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE NORMAL HOME SETTING.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHILD TO BE ADOPTED MUST BE IN THE CONTINUOUS CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE APPLICANTS FOR SIX MONTHS BEFORE AN ADOPTION ORDER COULD BE MADE. AFTER THAT, THE CHILD ENJOYS THE SAME LEGAL STATUS AS THE APPLICANT'S NATURAL CHILDREN.

INTENDING APPLICANTS MUST BE LEGALLY MARRIED, AGED 25 OR OVER AND BE IN GOOD HEALTH. RELATIVES OF THE CHILD INTENDING TO ADOPT IT MUST BE OVER 21, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT IN RESPECT OF APPLICANTS INTENDING TO ADOPT THEIR OWN CHILD NOT BORN OF THE PRESENT MARRIAGE. A FEE OF $100 IS CHARGED FOR EACH APPLICATION.

SUMMING UP THE WORK OF AN ADOPTION WORKER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: + IT IS TEDIOUS SOMETIMES, BUT IT IS MOST INTERESTING AND MEANINGFUL.+

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