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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (December 13):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of abandoned babies born to Mainland women in Hong Kong over the past five years, with a breakdown by their gender and health conditions; and
(b) how the authorities take care of these abandoned babies and the relevant public expenditure incurred each year?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Social Welfare Department (SWD) does not maintain statistics on the number of abandoned babies born to Mainland women in Hong Kong over the past five years. Since January 2006, medical social workers of SWD have come across four cases of new-born babies (two baby boys and two baby girls) abandoned by their Mainland parents. All the babies are found to have different levels of disability.
(b) SWD is concerned about the well-being of children and is committed to providing them with all appropriate services. Should a baby be found abandoned, the Police or any person authorised by the Director of Social Welfare (DSW) may, depending on the individual circumstances of the cases, apply for a care or protection order from the Juvenile Court under the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance (Cap 213).
The social workers of SWD will try their best to contact the parents, guardians or relatives of the abandoned babies on the basis of the information available (such as the residential address of the relatives). SWD would seek assistance from the Police and the Immigration Department as and when necessary. Besides, SWD would also trace the whereabouts of the abandoned babies' parents, guardians or relatives through public notice on the press and broadcasting on radio. In cases where it appears that the parents, guardians or relatives cannot be located soon, the social workers of SWD will submit recommendations to the Juvenile Court to appoint DSW as the legal guardian of the babies under Section 34(1)(a) of the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance. The social workers will protect the best interests of the babies/children as a matter of priority, and will take into consideration the babies' physical and psychological needs. The social workers will also arrange the most suitable residential care for the babies, such as foster homes and children's homes. Also, they will keep in touch with the babies and their carers and visit them on a regular basis to ensure that the babies are in proper care.
The social workers will also work out the long-term welfare arrangements for the babies. If the social workers have exhausted all existing possible means to locate the parents, guardians or relatives of the babies, SWD will, upon the confirmation of the rights of abode of the babies and the completion of all relevant assessments, arrange adoption of the babies as soon as possible to enable them to be brought up in a stable family environment.
Regarding the figures on public expenditure involved in helping the abandoned babies, SWD does not have the breakdown.
Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:19
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