TNAG-1666-FCO40-2315-Hong-Kong-ordinances-concerning-births--marriages--divorce-a-1987 — Page 63

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Explanatory Memorandum

The main objects of this Bill are to amend the Adoption Ordinance-----

(a) to provide that all adoption applications may be heard in the District Court, and to define the circumstances in which such applications may be transferred to the High Court; and

(b) to streamline the existing procedure for adoption.

2.

Paragraph (a) of the proviso to current section 4A(1) provides that, where a parent or guardian does not give his consent to the adoption of an infant, the District Court must transfer the adoption application (which is made to the District Court) to the High Court and the High Court may, under section 6, dispense with such consent. However, section 6 refers to “Court” and “Court” is defined to mean the High Court or the District Court. The validity of adoption orders which have been made by the District Court after dispensing by the District Court with such consent is therefore in question. The new section 5C in clause 4 therefore provides that such adoption orders are not invalid for that reason.

3. Clause 2 replaces the current section 4A by a new section 4A to provide that all adoption applications must be commenced in the District Court and that such applications may be transferred by the District Court to the High Court at the request of any party to the proceedings or on the motion of the District Judge. Where the application is heard by the District Court, that Court can, in suitable cases, dispense with the adoption consent without having to transfer the application to the High Court for that purpose.

4. The main amendments in clause 3 provide for matters relating to continuous actual custody of the infant to be adopted.

5. The new section 5A in clause 4 enables the Director of Social Welfare, if he is the legal guardian of an infant or if the infant is in his care, to obtain an order from a Court freeing the infant for adoption. The new section 5B in clause 4 provides for the revocation of an order made under section 5A and states the effect of such revocation.

6. The amendment in clause 5 enables rules to be made under which the Director of Social Welfare may conceal the whereabouts of an infant in

respect of whom an application to free him for adoption is made.

7. The Bill has no Public Service staffing or financial implications.

二、 現行條例第4A(1)條第(a)段但書規定:當一名父母或監護人不同意有關 小童被領養時,地方法院必須把該項領養申請(向地方法院所提出者)轉交最高法院 原訟法庭審理。原訟法庭可根據第6條的規定,免除「必須徵得他們同意」的規定。 不過,第6條條文曾提及「法庭」一詞,而「法庭」經界定為「最高法院原訟法庭」或 「地方法院」。因而經由地方法院決定免除「必須徵得父/母或監護人同意」這一規定 繼而頒發的領養令是否有效一事,即成疑問。因此,草案第4條列載新訂第5C條 條文,從而規定:那些由地方法院所頒發的領養令,當不會因上述理由而致無效。

三、草案第2條規定以新訂第4A條取代現行第4A條條文,從而規定:所有 領養子女申請必須先在地方法院進行。如訟案的任何一方提出要求或由地方法院法 官動議時,則有關申請可由地方法院轉交最高法院原訟法庭審理。倘有關申請是在 地方法院進行聆訊,在適合情況下,該法庭得裁決免除「必須徵得父/母或監護人 同意領養」這一規定,而毋須因這理由而把有關申請轉交最高法院原訟法庭審理。

四、草案第3條所作出的修訂,主要是就連續實際監護待領養的幼童一事, 作出規定。

五、 草案第4條所列的新訂第5A條規定:如果社會福利署署長是一名幼童 的合法監護人,或如果該名幼童是由他照顧,則他可向法庭取得一項命令,使該童 得任由他人領養。草案第4條亦列載新訂第5B條,該條就如何撤銷根據第5A條所 發出的命令事,作出規定,並列明撤銷該命令的後果。

六、 草案第5條所作修訂,旨在制定規則,以便社會福利署署長在申請使一 名幼童得任由他人領養時,可不透露該童的所在。

七、 本條例草案對政府開支和人手需求方面,都没有影響。

一九八七年領養子女(修訂)條例草案

摘要說明

本條例草案主要目的在修訂領養子女條例,從而規定:

所有領養子女的申請可在地方法院進行聆訊,並且明文界定在若干情況

(a)

下,該等申請可轉交最高法院原訟法庭審理;以及

(b) 使現行領養子女程序更為精簡。