XN000022-1977-01-28 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1977.

BILLS ON FAMILY MAINTENANCE PUBLISHED

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FOUR BILLS DESIGNED TO UPDATE AND IMPROVE EXISTING LEGISLATION RELATING TO MATTERS SUCH AS THE CUSTODY OF A CHILD AND PAYMENT MAINTENANCE ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.

THEY ARE THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS BILL 1977- MAINTENANCE ORDERS (RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT) BILL 1977- AFFILIATION PROCEEDINGS

(AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 AND SEPARATION AND MAINTENANCE ORDERS AMENDMENT BILL 1977.

THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS BILL 1977 SEEKS TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS ORDINANCE (CAP. 13) SO AS TO BRING THE LAW RELATING TO THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS INTO LINE WITH THE LAW IN ENGLAND AS AMENDED BY THE GUARDIANSHIP ACT OF 1973.

THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO MAKE THE RIGHTS OF A MOTHER EQUAL WITH THOSE OF A FATHER IN THE GUARDIANSHIP OF MINORS+.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE PRESENT LAW PARENTAL EQUALITY EXISTED WHERE A DIFFERENCE AROSE IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED,

HE ADDED, IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH PROCEEDINGS THE RIGHTS OF THE FATHER PREVAILED.

THE MAINTENANCE ORDERS (RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT) BILL 1977 SEEKS TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE MAINTENANCE ORDERS (FACILITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT) ORDINANCE (CAP. 15). IF ENACTED IT WILL BRING THE PROVISIONS OF BILL IN LINE WITH THOSE OF PART OF THE U.K. MAINTENANCE ORDERS (RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT) ACT OF 1972.

THE BILL WILL ENABLE ANY COUNTRY AND NOT MERELY A COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY WHICH IS PREPARED TO ENFORCE MAINTENANCE ORDERS MADE IN HONG KONG TO HAVE ITS ORDERS ENFORCED HERE.

THE DEFINITION OF MAINTENANCE ORDER IN THE BILL INCLUDES AN AFFILIATION ORDER AND WILL THUS ENABLE ENFORCEMENT OF SUCH ORDERS IN A RECIPROCATING COUNTRY.

THE AIMS OF THE AFFILIATION PROCEEDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 AND THE SEPARATION AND MAINTENANCE ORDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 ARE :

* TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE WHICH. THE DISTRICT

COURT MAY AWARD IN RESPECT OF A CHILD FROM $120 TO $500 PER WEEK, AND

* TO EMPOWER THE DISTRICT COURT TO REVOKE, REVIVE OR VARY AN ORDER FOR THE PERIODICAL PAYMENT OF MONEY MADE UNDER EITHER OF THE ABOVE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCES EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THE PARTIES RESIDES OUTSIDE HONG KONG.