3.-(1) Where it appears to the Director with respect to a child appearing to him to be
under the age of sixteen-
(a) that he has neither parent nor guardian or has been and remains abandoned by his parents or guardian or is lost; or
(b) that his parents or guardians are, for the time being or permanently, prevented by reason of mental or bodily disease, or infirmity or other incapacity or any other circumstances from providing for his proper accommodation, maintenance or upbringing and there is no available person or persons capable, fit or willing to undertake the care of such child; and
(c) in either case, that the intervention of the Social Welfare Department under this section is necessary in the interests of the welfare of such child,
it shall be lawful for the Director to receive the child into his care under this section.
(2) Where the Director has received a child into his care under this section it shall, subject to the provisions of this Part, be his duty to keep the child in his care so long as the welfare of the child appears to him to require it and the child has not attained the age of eighteen.
(3) Nothing in this section shall authorize the Director to keep a child in his care under this section if any parent or guardian desires to take over the care of the child and the Director shall, in all cases where it appears to him to be consistent with the welfare of the child so to do, endeavour to secure that the care of the child is taken over either-
(a) by a parent or guardian of his; or
(b) by a relative or friend of his, being, where possible, a person of the same religious persuasion as the child or who gives an undertaking that the child will be brought up in that religious persuasion.