[penguinsix]

Hi,

I was having lunch with some friends and they told me they wanted to adopt a Chinese girl but were told that they would not be able to bring her to Hong Kong as she would not have the right of abode to stay here.

Has anyone heard of this? I wanted to get some more information for them as they really wanted to get a little girl (they have a son already). I think both might have Permanent HK IDs, though I'm not sure (one is American, not sure on the second). They've been here about 10 years or so.

[berryplucker]

Presumably at some point in the adoption process she would be granted American citizenship (and she would have her Chinese citizenship renounced)? Once this has happened I don't see how she could be treated any different from any other American.

[penguinsix]

Yea, I think under the Child Citizenship Act they are granted citizenship the moment they touch US soil, basically. I'm just not sure how HK will treat them--as a legitimate child of an American expat over here or something different. Maybe they'll get a dependent visa?

http://library.adoption.com/Laws-Leg...le/6017/1.html

[BabySmurf]

try to contact d Social Welfare Dept - Adoption Unit at 2852-3107
http://www.swd.gov.hk/doc/family/adopt_leaf_e.pdf
http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_...nse/index.html

[steve.]

penguinsix

yr friend adopting chinese gal is a kind man, that's why i answer yr question.

after legal adopted, apply the gal for US citizenship and get US passport.

then her adopted father who u described holding us passport and HK permanent ID card, apply for dependent visa for her adopted girl as sponsor.

in HK, legal status of adopted child is same as nature born one except "will".

[Raiqi]

I do know of a couple of American SOcial workers in Hong Kong - they have all the answers to these kinds of questions. pm me if you want a contact number.