| The Hague Convention
on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ("the Convention") focuses
on protecting children internationally from the harmful effects of their wrongful
removal or retention and establishes civil procedures to ensure their prompt return
to the places of their habitual residence. The Child
Abduction and Custody Ordinance (Cap. 512) ("CACO") was enacted to implement
the Convention in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("Hong Kong") in
1997. The Secretary for Justice is designated as the Central Authority of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ("the
Central Authority of Hong Kong") to discharge the relevant functions under the
Convention. The International Law Division of the Department of Justice has been
authorized to act on behalf of the Secretary for Justice in providing international
assistance in the return of abducted children and exercise of rights of access
to children.
  Last
review date: 2 Oct 2009
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