### Adoption Rules 《領養規則》

11. Time for filing evidence
The said evidence shall be filed within 14 days after the issue of the originating summons and a copy of the applicant’s statement and of the documents attached thereto shall at the same time be served on the guardian ad litem.

12. Form of notice
The guardian ad litem shall as soon as practicable serve a notice in Form 5 on any parent or guardian of the infant who has signified his consent to the making of an adoption order:
Provided that the notice shall not require to be served on any parent who has given consent to an adoption order by way of general consent in Form 4A unless, within the period of 3 months from the day on which that form was executed, a copy of the originating summons in Form 2 has been served on the Director in accordance with rule 8(1). (L.N. 228 of 1977)(L.N. 139 of 1986)

13. Guardian ad litem to investigate all relevant circumstances
It shall be the duty of the guardian ad litem to investigate as fully as possible all circumstances relevant to the proposed adoption with a view to safeguarding the interests of the infant before the Court and to make a report to the Court for that purpose; and in particular it shall be his duty—
(a) to make inquiries as to all matters alleged in the applicant’s statement and as to the additional matters specified in Schedule 2 and to report to the Court upon them; (L.N. 230 of 2005)
(b) to interview (either by himself or by an agent appointed by him for the purpose) every individual being an applicant for the order, or mentioned in the applicant’s statement as a person to whom reference may be made, or a person on whom notice of the application is required to be served under rule 16, or, where notice is required to be served on a body of persons, the appropriate officer of such body.

14. Information to be confidential
The guardian ad litem and any agent of his and, where a body of persons is appointed as guardian ad litem, every officer, employee and member of that body shall treat as confidential all information obtained in the course of the investigation, and shall not divulge any part of it to any other person except so far as may be necessary for the proper execution of his duty.
(L.N. 230 of 2005)

### Adoption Rules 《領養規則》

14A. Mode of application
(1) An application by a parent under section 5(5D) of the Ordinance for an order revoking that parent’s consent given in the prescribed general form of consent shall be made to the Court of First Instance in accordance with paragraph (2) and the proceedings shall thereupon be transferred to the Court of First Instance. (L.N. 337 of 1982)
(2) The application under paragraph (1) shall be made—
(aa) if an application for a Convention adoption order is pending, in accordance with rule 14 of the Convention Adoption Rules (Cap. 290 sub. leg. D); (L.N. 230 of 2005)
(a) if an application for an adoption order is pending, by summons in those proceedings; or
(b) if no application referred to in subparagraphs (aa) and (a) is pending, by originating summons. (L.N. 230 of 2005)
(3) The Registrar of the High Court, after giving such directions (if any) as he thinks necessary, shall fix a date for the hearing of the application. (L.N. 230 of 2005)
(4) When the date for the hearing has been fixed, the Registrar of the High Court shall serve a copy of the summons or originating summons—
(a) in the case of an application made in pending adoption proceedings (or where adoption proceedings have subsequently been commenced) on the applicant in those proceedings, on the guardian ad litem and on every other person on whom notice has been or will in due course be served under rule 16;
(b) in any other case, on the guardian ad litem and on any other person or body who in the Registrar’s opinion ought to be served with notice of the hearing of the application.
(5) If in any application under this rule a serial number has been assigned to a person who proposes to apply for an adoption order—
(a) the documents to be served under paragraph (4) shall not disclose the identity of that person to any other person who is not already aware of that person’s identity; and
(b) the proceedings on the application shall be conducted with a view to securing that that person is not seen by or made known to any other person concerned with the application who is not already aware of his identity, except with his consent.
(6) Where the application is determined, the Registrar of the High Court shall serve notice of the effect of the determination and any order on the applicant and on all the persons served under paragraph (4).
(L.N. 228 of 1977; 25 of 1998 s. 2)

### Adoption Rules 《領養規則》

15. Appointment for hearing
The applicant shall obtain an appointment for the hearing of the application within 14 days after being notified by the guardian ad litem that he has made his report to the Court. If no appointment is obtained by the applicant, the guardian ad litem shall obtain an appointment as soon as practicable for the hearing of the application.

16. Notice of hearing
On a date being fixed for the hearing of the application, the guardian ad litem shall serve a notice in Form 6 on—
(a) every person whose consent to the order is required under section 5(5) of the Ordinance; and
(b)  the Director (if he is not the guardian ad litem): (G.N.A. 76 of 1960)

Provided that where the Court is satisfied that any person whose consent to the order is required by section 5(5) of the Ordinance cannot be found and that all reasonable steps have been taken to trace such person the Court may if it thinks fit dispense with service of the notice under this section on such person: (L.N. 54 of 1965)

Provided also that it shall not be necessary to serve the notice on— (L.N. 230 of 2005)
(i) the Director if he is a guardian of the infant by virtue of the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance (Cap. 213); or (10 of 2008 s. 44)
(ii) the parent of an infant who has given consent to an adoption order by way of general consent in Form 4A unless the hearing is to take place within 3 months from the day on which the form was executed. (L.N. 228 of 1977)
(L.N. 230 of 2005)