TNAG-0977-FCO40-1196-Legislation-for-the-abortion-law-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 41

G.S. 84

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XCR(77)277

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deformity is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, . it can sometimes be predicted with certainty. It therefore recommended

that abortion should be legalised for pregnancies that involve a substantial risk of deformity in the foetus.

Criteria Rejected by the Working Group

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The Working Group has examined other possible criteria for abortion and has recommended that there should be no change in the law in the following categories:

(a)

Young mothers

(b)

Fregnancies under the age of 16 often involve risks to the mental health. The Working Group recom- mended that there should not be any special provisions for girls under 16 to have abortion, but that adequate counselling be provided.

Abortion as a means of population control

The Working Group concluded that all restrictions on abortion should not be removed. The resource of Government hospitals would find it difficult to deal with a sharp increase in the demand for abortions. Furthermore, such a relaxation would be opposed by the medical associations and some religious sec- tions of the community, notably the members of the Roman Catholic Church. The Working Group therefore recommended that abortion should not be adopted as a means of population control and should not be available on request.

Protection for the Foetus and for Medical Conscientious Objectors

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The Working Group advised that better protection should be given to a viable foetus and to medical practitioners who object to abortions for personal reasons.

Viable Foetus

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Under the existing legislation, abortion may be performed at any stage during pregnancy. Although medical practitioners are usually reluctant to perform abortion on advanced pregnancies, the Working Group recommended that there should be a time limit for abortion, and that pregnancies after this limit should not be terminated except to save the life of the pregnant woman. It also recommended that the stage of pregnancy at which a foetus is considered viable should be determined

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