Hong Kong Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Hong Kong Case Law

Parental rights (illegitimacy)
  • 9 Aug 1969

    RE M L

    Citation
    RE M L
    Court
    Court of First Instance
    Case number
    HCMP103/1969

    The court held that it had inherent jurisdiction to make a British subject infant a ward of court even though the infant was physically outside the jurisdiction; in Hong Kong the father of an illegitimate child may maintain wardship proceedings and his wishes must be considered alongside the mother's, subject always to the paramountcy of the infant's welfare; applying those principles the court ordered the infant returned, made a ward, and placed in the care and control of the mother with reasonable access to the father.