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Adoption Service

Introduction

To find suitable and permanent homes for illegitimate children or children whose parents are deceased, deserted the family, or unable to take care of them. For children with special needs while no suitable local adoptive homes can be identified, adoption by overseas families will be arranged. SWD also handles privately arranged adoption cases such as adoption by step-parents or relatives.

Local Adoption

To contact SWD Adoption Unit:

Address:Room 201, 2/F., North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong
Telephone:35951935
Fax:35950025
Email:auenq@swd.gov.hk
Working Hours:Monday to Friday
8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday

Fees and Charges

Assessment on the suitability of adoption applicants provided by SWD is free of charge. For successful applicants, a fee of $4,210 will be charged for the Director of Social Welfare to act as guardian ad litem during the adoption proceedings.

Leaflets

Item / NameDownload File / Link
Considering Adoption (English version)PDF
Considering Adoption (Other languages)Other languages

Intercountry Adoption

Information and application procedures can be downloaded here:

Item / NameDownload File / Link
Information Sheet for Intercountry Adoption of a Child from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF

Accreditation System for Adoption and List of Accredited Bodies

As stipulated in the Adoption Ordinance, the Director of Social Welfare is the Central Authority (CA) in Hong Kong while accredited bodies are authorised to perform designated duties delegated by CA under the accreditation system. Details of the accreditation system and the list of accredited bodies are as below.

Item / NameDownload File / Link
Accreditation System in respect of Intercountry Adoption in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF / Word
Accreditation System in respect of Local Adoption in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF / Word
Code of Practice for Accredited Bodies in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Adoption Ordinance [Chapter 290] (English version)PDF
Guidelines on the Assessment of Application to Advertise Adoption Service in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF
List of Accredited Bodies for Intercountry Adoption in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF
List of Accredited Bodies for Local Adoption in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (English version)PDF

Service Statistics

  • Adoption applications being handled (as at end of June 2024)
Adoption applications being handledNumber
Adoption by local homes116
Adoption by overseas homes14
Privately arranged adoption e.g. by relatives21
  • Children available for adoption (as at end of June 2024)
Conditions of ChildrenNumber
Normal and healthy0
Of relatively complicated family background
(e.g. abandoned children, birth parent was drug dependent, etc.)
17
Children aged 3 or above45
With health issues2
Disabled25
Total89

(Remarks: For children with more than one conditions, only the major one will be counted for each child to avoid double-counting on the number of children.)


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