Costa Rica will be added to the list of contracting states and territories in the Schedule to the Child Abduction & Custody (Parties to Convention) Order, the Labour & Welfare Bureau says.

The amendment order, in effect since September 1, will be gazetted September 26 to implement the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction between Hong Kong and Costa Rica.

The convention provides an effective mechanism for the swift return of children wrongfully removed from their place of habitual residence to another contracting state in violation of custodial rights. It is now in force in 81 states.

The Central Government accepted Costa Rica's accession to the convention on behalf of Hong Kong in June.