In accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of the Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China, the following persons can be placed out as adoptees: orphans under the age of l4 bereaved of parents; abandoned infants and children whose biological parents cannot be ascertained or found; and children whose biological parents are unable to rear them due to unusual difficulties.

"By orphans bereaved of parents" is defined as children whose parents are dead or announced dead by the people's court.

"By abandoned infants or children whose parents cannot be ascertained or found" is defined as infants and children abandoned by their biological parents or whose biological parents cannot be ascertained or found.

"By children whose parents are unable to rear them due to unusual difficulties" is meant to indicate that the biological parents cannot rear their children because the parents are disabled or suffering from serious illness or whose life is extremely difficult caused by other elements.

(China-ccaa.org October 16, 2006)