We're off to Singapore in a few weeks, so news from there is catching my eye. And, my goodness, for somewhere so progressive, they sure can be backward! Or is it just different?

This Singaporean adoption community speaks a language that many in the US would find difficult to comprehend, even when the conversations are conducted in English.

This story for example, titled, "Local couples engaging surrogate mothers in China may face problems bringing back the babies, warn lawyers.", strikes an unsavory chord:

Even though China has banned surrogate pregnancies since 2001, Mr Low Soo Meng of Greenhouse Adoption Agency said he has checked with several doctors in China.

'It can be done. We have potential surrogate mothers in the rural areas who have expressed interest.

In June last year, China's International Herald Leader, a weekly Chinese-language newspaper, reported that surrogacy was growing in demand in China.

Rich women and female executives turned to surrogacy to avoid labour pains, losing out on job promotions and losing their figures.

... Another area of concern is that the surrogate mother in China would have to give up her rights to the child so the biological parents can adopt him or her.

Here's the problem: Singapore has an agreement with China stating that all China adoptions are to be done via two accredited agencies.

Would this 'adoption' of the surrogate child have to be done via the two agencies, or would it fall under a private contractual arrangement between the biological parents and surrogate mother?

Again, there is no clear guideline here.

Not much clear anywhere, as far as I can tell. I'm not even sure of their descriptive terms, as they appear to be talking about surrogates being implanted with an embryo, so 100% the bio offspring of the couple and not related at all to the woman who carries the child.

When five cycles of IVF treatment didn't work, the Singapore permanent resident couple looked overseas for a surrogate mother.

The Chinese couple, both professionals in their mid-30s, was reported in May to have engaged an Indian national to carry their baby to term.

They rented her womb for 300,000 rupees ($10,200).

The 3.2 kg baby boy was handed over to the couple immediately after birth to prevent the surrogate mother and child from bonding.

Oh my!

More on this to come ...