XN000022-1992-04-18 — Page 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 1992

COUPLES INVITED TO BECOME ADOPTIVE PARENTS

EASTER IS A TIME OF JOY AND HOPE.

IT MAY ALSO BE A TIME TO SHOW YOUR LOVE AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS BY CONSIDERING TO ADOPT NEEDY CHILDREN.

IT CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE ADOPTION UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT (SWD) SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF ADOPTION SERVICE WAS TO FIND SUITABLE AND PERMANENT HOMES FOR NEEDY CHILDREN SO THAT THEY COULD ENJOY THE LOVING CARE OF A FAMILY LIFE.

THESE NEEDY CHILDREN, WHO ARE MADE WARDS OF DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MAY HAVE EITHER LOST THEIR PARENTS OR BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR PARENTS.

THEY ARE VOID OF NOT ONLY A NORMAL REARING BUT ALSO A

CHILDHOOD.

HAPPY

"BUT THEY, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CHILDREN, SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, TO ENJOY CARE AND STIMULATION IN A LOVING AND PERMANENT HOME," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY LEND A HELPING HAND SHOULD THEY BE MORE FORTHCOMING TO BECOME SUBSTITUTE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 57 WARDS OF DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE AWAITING ADOPTION.

LAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 103 AND 45 CHILDREN IN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ADOPTIVE HOMES RESPECTIVELY.

COUPLES WHO ARE INTERESTED TO BECOME PROSPECTIVE

ADOPTERS MAY

APPLY TO THE SWD'S ADOPTION UNIT.

PROCESS AND

DETAILS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF ADOPTERS, ADOPTION LEGAL PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN LAID DOWN IN A SWD PAMPHLET ON ADOPTION SERVICE, WHICH ARE OBTAINABLE FROM VARIOUS DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

ENQUIRIES COULD ALSO BE MADE BY CALLING THE ADOPTION UNIT ON TEL. 852 3107.

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