### Assumption of Responsibility for Markets (Consolidation) Notification 《對市場承擔責任(綜合)公告》

1. Citation
This Notification may be cited as the Assumption of Responsibility for Markets (Consolidation) Notification.
(E.R. 4 of 2022)

2. Assumption of responsibility
The Organization has assumed responsibility for the regulation and conduct of the wholesale marine fish markets specified in the Schedule.

### Adoption Ordinance 《領養條例》

1. Short title
This Ordinance may be cited as the Adoption Ordinance.

### Adoption Ordinance 《領養條例》

3. Delegation
The Director may delegate any of his powers, duties and functions under this Ordinance to any public officer.
(Added 21 of 1960 s. 3)

4. Power to make adoption orders
Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the Court may, upon an application made in the prescribed manner, make an order authorizing—
(a) the sole applicant; or
(b) the applicants who apply jointly as 2 spouses,
to adopt an infant.
(Replaced 28 of 2004 s. 6)

4A. Commencement and transfer of adoption applications
(1) Subject to section 20C(3), an application made under section 4 shall be commenced in the District Court. (Amended 28 of 2004 s. 7)
(2) An application commenced under subsection (1) may be transferred by the District Court to the Court of First Instance—
(a) at the request of any party to the proceedings; or
(b) on the motion of the District Judge.
(3) Rules may provide for the procedures connected with the transfer of applications to the Court of First Instance and for the retransfer of applications from the Court of First Instance to the District Court.
(Replaced 13 of 1987 s. 2. Amended 25 of 1998 s. 2)

### Adoption Ordinance 《領養條例》

5AA. Applicant’s authorization for criminal record checking
If a person lodging a notice referred to in section 5(7)(b) is not an applicant under section 27(1) or (2), he shall in the notice include his authorization to the Commissioner of Police in like terms as those set out in section 27A(2)(b), and all of the provisions of section 28 shall apply in relation to the person as if the authorization were submitted in accordance with section 27A(2)(b).
(Added 28 of 2004 s. 9)

5A. Freeing infant for adoption
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where on an application made by the Director, the Court is satisfied that any consent required by section 5(5)(a) should be dispensed with, it may make an order declaring an infant free for adoption.
(2) An application in respect of an infant may be made by the Director under subsection (1) only if under any Ordinance the Director is the legal guardian of the infant or the infant is in the care of the Director.
(3) Before making an order under this section, the Court shall notify every person whose consent is to be dispensed with and who can be found (other than a person who is incapable of giving his consent) of the application under subsection (1) and give every such person an opportunity of being heard.
(4) On the making of an order under this section—
(a) all rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the parents or guardians of the infant, referred to in section 13(1), shall vest in the Director as if the order were an adoption order and the Director were the adopter; (Amended L.N. 587 of 1995)
(b) the Director or an accredited body may place, subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the infant for adoption; and (Replaced 28 of 2004 s. 10)
(c) section 5(5)(a) shall not apply.
(Added 13 of 1987 s. 4)[cf. 1976 c. 36 s. 18 U.K.]

5B. Revocation of section 5A order
(1) Any person whose consent is required by section 5(5)(a) (hereinafter in this section referred to as former parent

### Adoption Ordinance 《領養條例》

5C. Validation of adoption orders
Any adoption order made by the District Court prior to the commencement* of the Adoption (Amendment) Ordinance 1987 (13 of 1987) shall not be invalid by reason only that the District Court dispensed with any consent required under section 5(5)(a).
(Added 13 of 1987 s. 4) Editorial Note:
* Commencement date: 13 March 1987.

6. Dispensing with consent to adoption
(1) The Court may dispense with any consent required by section 5(5)(a) if it is satisfied—
(a) in the case of a parent or guardian of the infant, that he has abandoned, neglected or persistently ill-treated the infant;
(b) in the case of a person liable by virtue of an order or agreement to contribute to the maintenance of the infant, that he has persistently neglected or refused so to contribute;
(c) in any case, that the person whose consent is required cannot be found or is incapable of giving his consent or that his consent is unreasonably withheld,
or if it is of opinion that such consent ought, in all the circumstances of the case, to be dispensed with.
(2) The Court may dispense with the consent of the spouse of an applicant for an adoption order if satisfied that the person whose consent is to be dispensed with cannot be found or is incapable of giving the consent or that the spouses have separated and are living apart and that the separation is likely to be permanent, or if it is of opinion that such consent ought, in all the circumstances of the case, to be dispensed with.
(3) The consent required by section 5(5)(a) may be given without knowing the identity of the applicant for the order; and where consent so given by any person is subsequently withdrawn on the ground only that he does not know the identity of the applicant, his consent shall be deemed for the purposes of this section to be unreasonably withheld. (Amended 28 of 2004 s. 12)
(4) While an application for an adoption order in respect of an infant is pending in any Court, any parent or guardian of the infant who has signified his consent to the making of an adoption order in pursuance of the application shall not be entitled, except with the leave of the Court, to remove the infant from the care and possession of the applicant; and in considering whether to grant or refuse such leave the Court shall have regard to the best interests of the infant. (Amended 28 of 2004 s. 12)
[cf. 1950 c. 26 s. 3 U.K.]