Hong Kong charity aims to reduce number of children waiting for adoption

Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)

In Hong Kong, 89 children are waiting for adoption into a loving family.

Sky Siu is the new chief executive of Mother’s Choice, a Hong Kong charity that helps pregnant teenagers and children without families. She aims to reduce that number.

She said the most vulnerable children waiting to be adopted are the ones from “complicated backgrounds”. According to the Hong Kong government’s Social Welfare Department, 68 per cent of the 89 children fall into this category.

A “complicated background” could mean one of their birth parents was abusive, experienced mental health issues or was drug dependent.

It is especially challenging to find adoptive families for children with special needs.

While potential adoptive parents may be reluctant to take on a child with special needs, Siu wants families to know that help is available.

She explained that a vital part of the charity’s work is early intervention in cases and offering access to therapy. This improves the chances of these children being adopted.

Priority is given to placing children with families of the same culture and race. They also try to keep siblings together in the same family.

Quiz time

1. How many children are waiting to be adopted in Hong Kong?

2. Which category of prospective adoptive children are the most vulnerable?

3. What is a key function of Mother’s Choice?

4. How does Mother’s Choice prioritise the placement of children?

Sky Siu, the new chief executive of Mother’s Choice, is determined to reduce the number of children waiting for adoption. Photo: Kylie Knott

Suggested answers

1. 89

2. those from “complicated backgrounds”

3. early intervention in cases and offering access to therapy

4. placing children into families of the same culture and race and keeping siblings in one home