2024年5月8日，新加坡社會及家庭發展部長馬善高在國會書面答覆盛港集選區議員林志蔚關於禁止老年夫婦收養成年子女的相關問題。

以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：

26林志蔚（盛港集選區議員）副教授向社會及家庭發展部長詢問：禁止老年夫婦收養成年子女的理由是什麼，尤其是收養前一段婚姻中的繼子女？

馬善高（社會及家庭發展部長）先生：收養是一個法律程序，在這個程序中，受信賴的成年人成為孩子的合法父母，為孩子的最大利益和福祉做出重要決定。受信賴的成年人必須致力於履行父母的所有職責、義務和責任。這包括為孩子的日常護理、教育和撫養做出決定。

這種法律安排是必要的，因為我們認識到孩子往往缺乏做出重大決定或獨立照顧自己所必需的成熟度或生活經驗。隨著孩子長大成人，他們自然而然地獲得了為自己做決定的能力。在這個階段，讓一個值得信賴的成年人為他們做決定的需要就變得不再重要了。因此，孩子成年後，收養的法律程序不再適用。

因此，《兒童收養法》明確規定，法院只能對 21 歲以下的個人下達收養令。

以下是英文質詢內容：

REASON FOR PROHIBITING ADOPTION OF ADULT CHILDREN BY OLDER COUPLES

26Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Limasked the Minister for Social and Family Development what is the reason for prohibiting the adoption of adult children by an older couple, especially in the case of stepchildren from an earlier marriage.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Adoption is a legal process where trusted adults become the legal parents of a child, to make crucial decisions in the best interests of the child and the child's welfare. The trusted adults have to be committed to fulfilling all duties, obligations and responsibilities of a parent. This includes making decisions for the child's day-to-day care, education and maintenance.

This legal arrangement is necessary because we recognise that the child often lacks the maturity or life experience necessary to make significant decisions or care for themselves independently. As the child matures into adulthood, they naturally gain the capacity to make decisions for themselves. At this stage, the need to have a trusted adult to make decisions on their behalf loses its relevance. Consequently, the legal process of adoption no longer applies after the child achieves adulthood.

Accordingly, the Adoption of Children Act makes clear that the Court may only make adoption orders in respect of an individual below the age of 21 years.

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