Hong Kong Ordinances

MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE - SECT 48

Power to provide for supervision of children

(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) Where the court has jurisdiction by virtue of this Ordinance or of the
Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance ( Cap 192) to make an order for
the custody of a child and it appears to the court that there are exceptional
circumstances making it desirable that the child should be under the
supervision of an independent person, the court may, as respects any period
during which the child is, in exercise of that jurisdiction, committed to the
custody of any person, order that the child be under the supervision of the
Director of Social Welfare. (Amended 39 of 1972 s. 33)

(2) Where a child is under the supervision of the Director of Social Welfare
in pursuance of this section the jurisdiction possessed by a court to vary any
order made with respect to the child's custody, maintenance or education under
this Ordinance or under the Matrimonial  Proceedings and Property Ordinance (
Cap 192) shall, subject to any rules, be exercisable at the instance of that
court itself. (Amended 39 of 1972 s. 33)

(3) The court shall have power from time to time by an order under this
section to vary or discharge any provision made in pursuance of this section.

(4) The court shall not make an order that a child be under the supervision of
the Director of Social Welfare under this section after the child has attained
the age of 18, and an order made by virtue of this section shall cease to have
effect as respects any child when he attains that age. (Added 69 of 1997 s.
19) [cf. 1965 c. 72 s. 37 U.K.]