Tag Archives: China

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Revisions of fees under Adoption Rules and Convention Adoption Rules

     The Adoption (Amendment) Rules 2023 and the Convention Adoption (Amendment) Rules 2023 were published in the Gazette today (October 20) to revise the fees payable to the Director of Social Welfare (DSW) for acting as guardian ad litem (GAL) of an infant for the purposes of an adoption application.

     The two Amendment Rules were made by the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal under section 12(1) of the Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 290). The two GAL fee items will be increased in phases from the current rate of $3,970 to $4,210, $4,440 and $4,670 with effect from 2024, 2025 and 2026 respectively.

     A Government spokesman said, “The DSW, as GAL, has to investigate as fully as possible all circumstances relevant to the proposed adoption and make a report to the Court to ensure that the adoption is in the best interests of the infant.”

     Government fees, on one hand, should be based on the “user pays” principle and set at levels adequate to recover the full cost of providing the services in general; on the other hand the Government encourages applicants to adopt children whose parents are deceased, or unable or unwilling to take care of them. Striking a balance, the Government seeks to recover 20 per cent of the full cost incurred in the execution of statutory duties under the Adoption Rules (Cap. 290A) and the Convention Adoption Rules (Cap. 290D). The results of the Social Welfare Department’s review showed that the two fee items fall short of the target of 20 per cent of the full cost at 2023-24 price level.

     The spokesman added that relevant fees have not been revised since 2017. The proposed fee revisions are mild and it is anticipated that these would not deter applicants from pursuing their adoption plans. Potential adoption applicants and the existing accredited bodies for adoption service have also been consulted on the proposed fee adjustments.

     The two Amendment Rules will be tabled at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (October 25) for negative vetting. Subject to approval, the new fees will come into effect on January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, respectively. read more

East Asia

Proposed widening works of Yuen Long Highway (section between Lam Tei and Tong Yan San Tsuen) gazetted

     The Government gazetted today (October 20) the proposed road works to widen Yuen Long Highway (section between Lam Tei and Tong Yan San Tsuen) for increasing the capacity of the section of Yuen Long Highway between Lam Tei Quarry and Tong Yan San Tsuen Interchange, as well as enhancing the connectivity of Route 11 to Yuen Long South Development to meet the traffic need arising from the commissioning of Route 11 and the future developments in the Northwest New Territories.
 
     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
 
Tuen Mun Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
2/F, Tuen Mun, Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories
 
Yuen Long Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Yuen Long, District Office Building,
269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long, New Territories
 
District Lands Office, Tuen Mun,
6/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices,
1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories
 
District Lands Office, Yuen Long,
9/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New Territories
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plans, resumption plans and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via one of the following means:
 

  • By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
  • By fax to 2868 4643; or
  • By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.
 
     A notice of objection should describe the objector’s interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than December 19, 2023. read more

East Asia