Social_Welfare_Annual_Report_1970-1971 — Page 13

creches and 14 play centres. The majority of these are sponsored by voluntary welfare organizations, and are assisted by a recurrent sub- vention from Government. UNICEF has assisted some nurseries with donated equipment. The Department's Chuk Yuen Children's Recep- tion Centre, provides temporary care for children found abandoned or otherwise in need of care and protection.

21. Legal adoption of children is made in accordance with the provisions 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. 272 children were adopted locally during the year and it is an encouraging sign that the waiting list of applicants now exceeds the number of children available for adoption. However, there is a small number of disabled children for whom suitable homes are difficult to find. Requests made by over- seas families for the adoption of local children are considered by the Department in conjunction with two voluntary welfare organizations, that is, the International Social Service and CARITAS. During the year 32 children were adopted abroad as compared with 37 the previous year. (See Appendices 13 and 14).

22. Children may be 'adopted' in accordance with local Chinese customs and traditions and therefore without recourse to a court order. To avoid abuse, female children so adopted are automatically placed under the guardianship of the Director of Social Welfare, in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ord- inance, Cap. 213, and each adoption is registered. The number of these registered adoptions decreased from 12 in 1969-70 to 11 during this year. The registration of male children adopted in accordance with local Chinese customs is not required by law; there were two such adoptions registered voluntarily during this year. (See Appendix 15).

23. Pre-vocational training and residential care for girls with personal or family problems is provided by three voluntary welfare organizations:

(a) The local branch of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd provides at Pelletier Hall residential care, education, domestic and pre-vocational training for up to 120 teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 18 who have experienced behaviour problems.

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