55. Day care services for children continue to be in great demand for the good reason that there is a considerable number of mothers who have to work to supplement family incomes and who are therefore unable to devote sufficient care and attention to their children at a vital period of their growth and development. Day care services in nurseries, creches and play centres provide a remedy wherever adequate care for children's not otherwise available.
56. During the year under review more than 13,000 places were available for children in some 74 non-profit-making nurseries and creches and 16 play centres, the majority of which are sponsored by voluntary welfare organizations, and assisted by subventions from Government. UNICEF provides assistance to some nurseries by donating equipment.
57. Legal adoption of children is made in accordance with the pro- visions of the Adoption Ordinance, Cap 290, under which the Director of Social Welfare is required to advise the Supreme Court on the suitability of the adoptive parents. Local adoption in respect of abandoned children, orphans or children given up by their parents, who have been received by the Department into its care, is arranged with the assistance of the Department. In this connection, the Depart- ment's Chuk Yuen Children's Reception Centre receives and cares for any child under the age of eight who may have been found abandoned or wandering in the streets and who is in need of immediate care and attention. In cases of these adoptions normally a family will apply for the adoption of a child: and the Department will then investigate the suitability of the applicants, with a view to finding the most suitable home for the child. 283 children were adopted during the year and it is an encouraging sign that the waiting list of applicants exceeds the number of children available for adoption. However, there exists a small number of disabled children for whom suitable homes are difficult to find.
58. Requests made by overseas families for the adoption of local children are considered by the Department in conjunction with two voluntary welfare organizations, viz. the International Social Service and CARITAS. During the year 37 children were adopted abroad as compared with 47 last year.
59. Children may be 'adopted' in accordance with local Chinese customs and traditions and therefore without recourse to a court order. However, to avoid abuse, female children so adopted are automatically
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