The Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) (Amendment) Order 2020 (Amendment Order) made by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare under section 20D of the Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 290) was published in the Gazette today (May 22).
The Amendment Order seeks to add eight Contracting States to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) to the Schedule to the Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) Order (Cap. 290 sub. leg. C) so that the Convention applies to an adoption between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and any of these eight Contracting States in relation to an application made under the Convention. The eight Contracting States are the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Ghana, the Co‑operative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Honduras, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Zambia. In accordance with the Convention, the Convention has effect between the HKSAR and these eight Contracting States since the following dates:
| The Republic of Benin | October 1, 2018 |
| The Republic of Côte d’Ivoire | October 1, 2015 |
| The Republic of Ghana | January 1, 2017 |
| The Co‑operative Republic of Guyana | June 1, 2019 |
| The Republic of Honduras | July 1, 2019 |
| The Kyrgyz Republic | November 1, 2016 |
| The Republic of Namibia | January 1, 2016 |
| The Republic of Zambia | October 1, 2015 |
The Convention sets out, inter alia, a framework for international co‑operation in intercountry adoptions. The implementation of the Convention in the HKSAR is governed by the Adoption Ordinance. The Convention is currently in force in 102 states.
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