[adoptmom_02]

HI is hong kong a part of china? I am so horrible on countries.
thanks. i am very interrested in children of promise.
thanks

[specialk4b]

I'm really bad at that stuff too, but I looked up Hong Kong adoption information from the Department of State: Intercountry Adoption Hong Kong


I was curious, so I looked up Hong Kong on Wikipedia! Hong Kong - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I hope these help

[sak9645]

Hong Kong belonged to England for about 100 years prior to 1997. In 1997, under terms of an agreement between China and England, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule.

As a result, Hong Kong is now a part of China. It is considered an "Autonomous Region", much like Tibet. HOWEVER, under terms of agreements worked out between Hong Kong and China, Hong Kong was allowed to continue to do some things differently from the rest of China. China officially calls the arrangement, "One Country, Two Systems".

As an example, Hong Kong still has its own currency and issues its own passports. It also allows more freedom in areas like religion and business.

China has also allowed Hong Kong to keep its adoption system. As a result, if you wish to adopt from Hong Kong, you do not go through the CCAA system.

Hong Kong allows international adoption, but relatively few children become available for foreign families. For one thing, Hong Kong is small, when compared against the rest of China. For another, Hong Kong tends to be quite prosperous, compared to the rest of China. More people can care for the children they bear, and more people can adopt the children of relatives and community members who cannot parent. Hong Kong also does not apply the one-child policy, so it does not have abandonments caused by it.

Most of the children who wind up being available for international adoption are either older children or children with special needs. These are the children least likely to be adopted domestically.

In its international adoption program, Hong Kong gives foreigners of Chinese descent priority over non-Chinese people, in making an assignment of a child. As a result, the youngest and healthiest children generally go to people of Chinese heritage. Non-Chinese people generally must adopt children who are older or who have more significant special needs.

Hong Kong permits both married and single foreigners, Chinese or non-Chinese, to adopt. Married couples must be between 25 and 45, unless they request a child who is older or who has significant special needs.

[sak9645]

This continues my previous comments, which accidentally got posted before I was ready.

Singles also may be 25-45, unless they request an older chld or one with special needs.

Married couples and single applicants must prove that they have more than Hong Kong's "Medium Monthly Domestic Household Income", which is set by the Department of Social Welfare. This figure is calculated in an unusual way, in that it refers specifically to money that is left over AFTER a family pays its required monthly bills, such as mortgage or rent, utilities, credit card or loan payments, tuition for other children, etc. They must also submit tax returns and fill out a financial statement.

The U.S. State Department says that families who already have a child with a special need will have the best chance of being matched with a Hong Kong child who has special needs. It also says that singles tend to be most acceptable if they are in a profession related to children's education or health -- e.g., teacher or nurse.

Hong Kong's government states that an adoption should take less than twelve months, unless a family requests a particular special need or age range.

Because there are so few children available, and because American parents tend to prefer to adopt healthy infants and toddlers, relatively few American agencies work in Hong Kong. The JCICS website lists only one agency working there, although I believe that some other JCICS member agencies do occasional placements. You may want to do an Internet search for other agencies, but if you find some, be sure to check them out carefully.

Sharon

[Dearonebaby]

Yes, this all sounds familiar. I contacted an agency for Hong Kong, I was wondering if just the agency I checked into had these particular guidelines, but they told me that Americans could not get younger children and that all their available children in Hong Kong were SEVERE special needs. They made it sound like this was all Hong Kong would let out. Has anyone heard of mild needs coming out of Hong Kong?
Sarah k