Blitz on pregnant mainlanders begins today
The new policy curbing entry by heavily pregnant mainlanders goes into action today, with the Immigration Department insisting there will be no enforcement problems even though doctors and nurses are stationed at only two of the 12 checkpoints.
The enforcement - dubbed 'D-Day' by Hospital Authority insiders - begins with hospitals heavily booked by mothers who rushed to beat the deadline.
The Health Department said at least one doctor and one nurse would be available from 9am to 10pm today at both Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau, where most of the mainland mothers-to-be pass through.
They will help immigration officers on the lookout for women 28 weeks or more pregnant who do not have certificates showing they have a hospital booking to give birth.
Medical help will be sent to other control points that need it.
Immigration has deployed an additional 110 officers to enforce the policy.
The Health Department is recruiting retired doctors on two-month contracts, at HK$319 per hour. Armed with tape measures, the doctors will judge the stage of a woman's pregnancy by measuring her fundal height - a gauge of the size of the fetus.
The woman can refuse but if she does, immigration officers will take it into account in deciding whether to admit her.
Director of Health Lam Ping-yan said that if the enforcement action continued beyond two months, it should be contracted out to minimise the burden on local services.
An immigration spokeswoman said there would be no problem enforcing the policy at all 12 control points, which also include Man Kam To, Sha Tau Kok, Hung Hom, three ferry piers, two helicopter points, the river trade terminal and the airport. 'If there is a need for doctors to expedite their advice, we will try to arrange transport for the doctor and nurse to the control points.'
Mainland mothers-to-be need booking certificates - after paying HK$38,000 at public hospitals and HK$40,000 deposit at private hospitals - before they can be allowed entry. Those who slip through will be charged HK$49,000 at public hospitals.
At least HK$64 million has been collected by at least three private hospitals from 1,600 mothers. While at least 700 pregnant mainlanders have had antenatal checks at public hospitals, they are expected to return to the hospitals to queue up for booking certificates from today.
A Hainan woman, six months pregnant, who arrived with her Hong Kong husband surnamed Leung, said the policy was 'unfair' for couples like them.
'It should only apply to mainland couples,' he said.
