ABANDONED INFANTS

Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs how many infants, legitimate and otherwise, were abandoned by their parents and were looked after by institutions or by foster-parents during the period 1st August, 1966 to 31st July, 1967.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Chan Chee Seng) (for the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the records of the Social Welfare Department, the total number of unwanted children notified to the Protector of Children during the period 1st August, 1966, to 31st July, 1967, is 90. These 90 children may be classified under the following categories:

(i) Abandoned children.

These were babies found abandoned and referred to the Social Welfare Department as being in need of care and protection. Their parentage and origin are unknown.

(ii) Unwanted legitimate babies.

These were babies rejected by their parents and subsequently given to the Social Welfare Department or voluntary organisations for placement in adoption.

(iii) Unwanted illegitimate babies.

These were illegitimate babies handed over to the Social Welfare Department or voluntary organisations for placement in adoption.

There are 10 in the first category, 12 in the second category and 68 in the third category.

In addition, a total of 1,195 transferred children were registered with the Department during the period 1st August, 1966, to 31st July, 1967. These were not really cases of children un wanted or abandoned by their parents. They were, in fact, de facto adoptions privately arranged between the parents and the adoptors. Under the law, all such transferred children under the age of 14 have to be registered with the Social Welfare Department.