Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
Guardianship of Minors (Amendment) Bill 2011 to be gazetted this Friday
************************************************************

     The Guardianship of Minors (Amendment) Bill 2011 will be gazetted this Friday (June 3).

     The Bill seeks to implement the recommendations of the Report on Guardianship of Children, published by the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong (LRC), which aims at facilitating parents in making guardianship arrangements for their children in the event of the parents' deaths.

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "We thank the LRC for its review on the legal arrangements relating to guardianship of minors and the law reform recommendations as set out in the report.

     "The recommendations will help improve the relevant legislation and facilitate parents in making guardianship arrangements for their children, thereby contributing to the best interests of children."

     Under the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance (Cap. 13) (the GMO), a parent may by will or deed appoint another person to be a guardian of his or her child in place of himself or herself in the event of his or her death.

     The LRC has reviewed the legal arrangements in relation to the appointment as well as removal and powers of guardians for minors under the GMO, and has made a total of nine law reform recommendations after making reference to the laws of England and Wales and Scotland.

     The recommendations include simplifying the procedures for appointing guardians and revoking guardian appointments, stating clearly when guardian appointments take effect and allowing guardians to appoint guardians for minors, etc.

     After examining the report, the Labour and Welfare Bureau decided to accept all its nine recommendations.

     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on June 15.

Ends/Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:05

NNNN

Print this page