[phil2001]

Hi there, I live in the UK and I'm after advice on how to trace my birthmother in Hong Kong. I was born Kowloon in 1974 and was adopted in 1975 and bought to the UK.I'm now 29 yrs old. Any advice would be appreciated on where to start. My adoptive parents were in the Britsh Forces out there. Any advice welcome!

Kind Regards Phil

[Sharon]

That's really difficult. I'm not sure how one would go about doing an international search, since I've only had experience with searching in the US. However, when I go on the internet and look up search databases (type in "People Search") I've noticed that there are some search engines that say they specialize in "International search for adoptees and birthparents". Perhaps you could look into one of these, although I imagine they cost money. I don't know how much. I can try and get you some links if you want. Best of luck to you, ~Sharon

[phil2001]

Hi Sharon
Would be grateful for any links. Thankyou very much for the reply it's greatly appreciated.
Kindest Regards
Phil

[muchow]

I don't know if this helps, I have learned by stumbling myself. Things to try: If you know ANYthing about her (such as maiden name or similar), try searching what I call peripheral resources... for example, newspapers from the time period of adoption in her home city. It's possible that a wedding announcement lists male relatives in attendance, which are easier to trace as their names don't change.

You might also check (sad to say) funeral announcements, for the exact same reason -- they are often attended by male relatives. If your birthmother's father died, for instance, and you know something about him, such as his name (sometimes a stretch I know) his funeral might be listed and say more about who was there.

If the family stayed in one place for a while, sometimes you can check real estate records or (my half-brother tried this) payroll departments of large companies in the area that were in business X years ago, to see if they ever employed a relative. Sometimes they can tell you a forwarding address. Same with real estate stuff -- if you know the address of the house you were born in, let's say, you can check to see who the house was sold to, and you might find someone who remembers them and had to send papers (to close the house) to your birthparents' new address.

If a parent was in the military, sometimes the military web sites such as the Navy Memorial web site, for instance, keep good records.

If your birth mother's obstetrician was listed on the birth certificate, you MIGHT try checking with them. If you are nice, and they are retired, they might loosen up and tell you what doctor took over their practice, and whether they remember anything about your mother that might be a clue to where she is now.

Birthmothers are difficult to trace now because of anti-stalking laws, and vital statistics departments (such as the one in Baltimore, MD) won't release records even to relatives without either power of attorney or a 100-year wait after the individual's death.

You might also try the Social Security Death Index for a grandfather or grandmother, which would tell what city they were living in when they died... often the birth mother is living in the same city (though often not).

Hope this helps.

Don