1. What is the difference between sponsorship, foster care and adoption?

"Sponsorship" is a donation programme which is a kind deed to expand and optimize the welfare services of children/youths, promote their well-being, and allow children/youths to receive care from different parties of the society. "Foster care" is to provide temporary out-of-home family care to children/youth in need so that they can live in a safe and caring family environment and develop comprehensively both physically and mentally. However, the above two do not constitute any legal rights and responsibilities between the sponsor/foster family and the child.

Alternatively, "adoption" is to establish the parent-child relationship between persons without kinship through legal procedures so that the adopted child can have his/her own family. Adoptive parents do not only have the right to be parents, but also have the responsibility of being parents. 

2. How to adopt the children in Po Leung Kuk?

Not all the children in Po Leung Kuk are awaiting adoption. Children waiting for adoption are wards of the Director of Social Welfare of HKSAR, and living in different children’s homes or foster homes. Applicants will be matched with the same group of children no matter which agency they apply to.

3. What are the differences between the Social Welfare Department and the              three accredited adoption agencies?

The requirements and procedures for adoption applications are roughly the same. The charges, office locations and services are different. Po Leung Kuk provides different services to families before and after adoption, including case follow-up, parenting talks, activities for connecting adoptive families, talks and training on adoption-related topics, etc.

4. Can individuals not currently living in Hong Kong apply for local adoption          here?

No. All local adoption applicants need to reside in a home in Hong Kong. For those who have recently moved to Hong Kong, they need to be living in Hong Kong for more than 12 months before they could apply for local adoption, and they will continue to live in Hong Kong for a least 12 months more to complete the whole adoption process.

5. Can the applicant select kids?

The applicant cannot select a kid, but can choose the kid’s age, sex, race, health condition and background.

6. Does the kid know that he/she is adopted?

We strongly encourage adoptive families to tell the kids that they are adopted when they are young, so that they can accept their identities more easily.

We believe that adoption is not a secret but another way for building a family besides birth, namely, establishing an enviable intimate family relationship by virtue of love, communication and undertakings.

7. How long will it take to match a child?

It is hard to estimate. A major factor is the applicants’ level of acceptance of children and the conditions of the children waiting for adoption.

8. Can adoptees search for their birth families? Can birth parents find and take      their children back after adoption?

The adoptees can decide to trace their own history and search for their birth families (i.e. root-tracing). The Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department provides root-tracing services for adoptees. Adoptees aged 18 or above can apply for root-tracing services on their own, while those under the age of 18 need the company of their parents.. Based on the wishes of the birth family or the accuracy of the contact information left behind, the adoptee may not be able to re-contact with the birth family.

After the adoption is finalized by the court, the birth parents cannot apply for regaining the custody of the child. They also cannot take the initiative to contact their birth child.