The Child Abduction & Custody (Parties to Convention) (Amendment) Order 2014 was gazetted today to give implement the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction between Hong Kong and five countries.

The amendment order was made under the Child Abduction & Custody Ordinance. Andorra, Korea, Morocco, Russia and Japan were added to the list of contracting states, which now numbers 92.

The convention provides a mechanism for the swift return of children wrongfully removed from their place of habitual residence to another contracting state in violation of custodial rights.