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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) at North Point Government Offices today (August 5) to better understand the current arrangements and the latest situation on the adoption services provided by the SWD.
Accompanied by the District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern & Islands), Ms Pang Kit-ling, Mr Cheung was briefed by staff of the Unit on its daily operation and was given an overview of its service provision on various fronts, including pre-adoption counselling service and the procedures of local and overseas adoption as well as root-tracing services.
Mr Cheung also had discussions with the staff when touring the Unit's office. He learnt that social workers of the Unit had to conduct thorough and in-depth home studies for adoption applicants with a view to matching the children ready for adoption with the most suitable families. When handling applications, consideration is always given to the best interests of the children so that they can lead a normal and healthy childhood in a family environment.
Adoption in Hong Kong is governed by provisions under the Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 290). The Adoption Unit of the SWD is tasked with finding suitable and permanent homes for children who have lost their parents through death or desertion and the children who were born out of wedlock and whose parents are unable to maintain them. Some of the children with special needs will be adopted by overseas families in case there is no suitable local home. The Adoption Unit also assists in adoption through private arrangement, mostly by step-parents or relatives.
In 2013-14, the SWD's Adoption Unit arranged local and overseas adoption for 96 and 21 children respectively while nine children aged below 3 were under the supervision of the Director of Social Welfare. As at June 30 this year, 85 children were awaiting adoption.
Ends/Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:25
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