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2

arrangements with an aim to further engage stakeholders before embarking on legislation.

In conjunction with the Department of Justice (DoJ), we in the

Labour and Welfare Bureau have commenced the initial stage of the follow-up work of the LRC Report. We have considered the latest developments in overseas jurisdictions. In this connection, we note that the LRC Report has made reference to the relevant laws in England and Wales, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. We are following up on the latest laws in these jurisdictions, including the UK Children and Families Act 2014; Care of Children Act 2004 in New Zealand (relevant provisions last updated in 2014); the Family Law Act 1975 in Australia (relevant provisions last updated in 2011); and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

We have also started discussions with DoJ on the legislative

proposals. In this process, we are conscious that Recommendation 71 in the LRC Report has recommended that, as far as possible, the provisions dealing with disputes relating to children, arrangements on divorce, guardianship, disputes with third parties, or disputes between parents without accompanying divorce proceedings should be consolidated into one existing Ordinance. We are now exploring the feasibility of consolidating relevant existing provisions including those in the Separation and Maintenance Orders Ordinance (Cap.16), the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance (Cap.179) and the Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap.192) and incorporating new provisions resulting from LRC’s recommendations into one existing Ordinance which is the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance (Cap.13).

While working out the legislative proposals in conjunction with

DoJ, we are also considering the implementation arrangements having regard to the experience of other jurisdictions as well as local circumstances. We are now liaising with the Judiciary and other relevant Bureaux / Departments to consider how to take forward some of the recommendations through administrative means, e.g. issue of guidelines and provision of training.

The LRC Report seeks to implement the concept of continuing

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