The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ("the Convention") focuses on protecting children internationally from the harmful effects of their wrongful removal or retention and establishes civil procedures to ensure their prompt return to the places of their habitual residence. The Child Abduction and Custody Ordinance (Cap. 512) ("CACO") was enacted to implement the Convention in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("Hong Kong") in 1997. The Secretary for Justice is designated as the Central Authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ("the Central Authority of Hong Kong") to discharge the relevant functions under the Convention. The International Law Division of the Department of Justice has been authorized to act on behalf of the Secretary for Justice in providing international assistance in the return of abducted children and exercise of rights of access to children.