Diplomat 'dumps' adopted daughter after seven years

Brussels: A senior Dutch diplomat and his wife have sparked a furore by giving up the Asian baby they adopted seven years ago because she had not "bonded" with them.

Dutch Vice-Consul Raymond Poeteray and his wife, Meta, adopted Jade while posted in South Korea, because they believed they were unable to conceive.

The couple have since had two of their own children and last year handed Jade to authorities in Hong Kong, saying she had not adapted to her new family.

But a nanny who cared for Jade has accused them of showing the girl little affection, saying they did not treat her like "a normal daughter", in stark contrast to their natural children.

De Telegraaf, a leading Dutch newspaper, has accused the couple of discarding the little girl "like household rubbish".

But in a press statement, the Poeterays claimed Jade suffered from such a severe "fear of bonding" that medical specialists advised she be placed in temporary care.

"Contrary to what has been written in the media, we do not want to get rid of our daughter," the couple said. "We never even considered giving her up.

"To our great disappointment, things didn't get better, they got worse, and the rest of the family began to suffer hugely from that.

"Although the specialists now think it is not possible that Jade can be brought home, we continue to hope," the couple added. "We will do our best to find a solution allowing her to find happiness in her life. This is a private matter, for which we as parents bear the responsibility. The publicity itself is already painful enough, but what's worse is it doesn't help us find a solution for our problems."

Jade, who speaks English and Cantonese but not Korean, does not have Dutch nationality or Hong Kong residency, throwing her future into doubt. The couple claimed their failure to apply for Dutch citizenship for the girl was merely an oversight, not an indication of their intention to abandon her.

The girl's plight has sparked anger in Korea and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Hilbrand Westra, chairman of the Dutch department of United Adoptees International, has called on the Netherlands to take responsibility for Jade. "Morally and ethically, the Dutch government must take responsibility for the plight of this child and look after her," Westra said.