XN000022-1988-05-13 — Page 6

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1988

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COMMITTEE EXAMINES PUBLIC OPINION ON SURROGACY

AT

THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFICALLY ASSISTED HUMAN REPRODUCTION ITS MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY) EXAMINED PUBLIC OPINION ON THE INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE ISSUE OF SURROGACY.

MEMBERS DELIBERATED IN DETAIL ON THE PUBLIC VIEWS COLLECTED THROUGH WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS AND COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS OR INTEREST GROUPS, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND PRESS COMMENTS.

"WE PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE AGAINST SURROGACY DESPITE THE STRINGENT CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE,' THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, DR C.H. LEONG, SAID.

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'IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE THE LIVELY DEBATES GOING ON IN THE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COLUMNS AFTER WE HAVE ANNOUNCED OUR PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON SURROGACY.

"IT DEMONSTRATES A GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE SUBJECT, AND HENCE ENABLING THE COMMITTEE ΤΟ ASSESS PUBLIC VIEWS MORE ACCURATELY BEFORE PUTTING ITS FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT.

WE ARE NOT PROMOTING SURROGACY AT ALL; WHAT WE ARE THAT A NEW SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUE WHICH COULD HELP A MARRIED HAVE THEIR GENETIC CHILD SHOULD NOT BE BANNED ENTIRELY.

SAYING IS COUPLE ΤΟ

"REALISING THAT SUCH PRACTICES COULD LEAD то MANY MORAL AND LEGAL PROBLEMS, WE ARE THEREFORE RECOMMENDING STRINGENT CONDITIONS ΤΟ BE IMPOSED ON SUCH PRACTICES.

"THE RIGHTS OF THE SURROGATE MOTHER WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE CLEARLY SPELT OUT, AND ALSO THE IMPACT ON THE CHILD BORN THROUGH SURROGACY WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY LOOKED AT."

DR LEONG SAID THE COMMITTEE WOULD CONTINUE ΤΟ CARRY OUT CONSULTATIONS ON AN EXTENSIVE BASIS.

"THIS WILL INCLUDE ESTABLISHING A DIRECT DIALOGUE WITH CONCERNED GROUPS WHICH ARE WILLING TO TALK TO US, OR POSSIBLY ISSUING A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT TO THE PUBLIC AFTER A FEW ISSUES HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE COMMITTEE, HE SAID.

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ESTABLISH A LICENSING

THE COMMITTEE WILL LOOK AT THE NEED TO AUTHORITY TO REGULATE IN-VITRO FERTILISATION PRACTICES AT ITS NEXT MEETING TO BE HELD IN JULY.

"THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THEIR PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS,' DR LEONG SAID.

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ANY COMMENTS AND OPINIONS CAN BE SENT то THE COMMITTEE THROUGH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

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