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Donald Tsang
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Target middlemen behind births surge

Donald Tsang

The prospect of a surge in women from the mainland giving birth in Hong Kong hospitals might not have been foreseen when the rules on right of abode were laid down in the Basic Law some 20 years ago. But with increasing numbers of such women crossing the border to give birth, concerns that our city's hospitals will be unable to cope are, understandably, growing. The introduction of a quota system to ease the burden has prompted some pregnant women to go to emergency wards in public hospitals to give birth. This is a worrying trend which must be curbed.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen raised the matter with Premier Wen Jiabao for the first time during his duty visit to Beijing last month. He asked for greater co-operation from mainland authorities in combating the illegal services offered by middlemen. That is a sensible step which should have been taken sooner. The concerns are shared by the state leader, according to Tsang.

Separately, the Beijing-friendly Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong plans to raise the issue when some of its members who sit on the the National People's Congress attend the legislature's annual meeting in March. It is good that the problem is being brought to the attention of the central government. Hopefully, fewer pregnant women will be slipping through the border to give birth without bookings.

The Basic Law gives right of abode to those who are born in the city. The Court of Final Appeal has ruled that the right extends to children born to Chinese parents who are not permanent residents here. Recently, chief executive hopefuls Leung Chun-ying and Henry Tang Ying-yen suggested further restrictions on non-locals giving birth in public hospitals. Some critics even suggest Beijing should be asked to interpret or amend the Basic Law in a way that would keep them out once and for all.

Before considering these drastic steps, authorities on both sides of the border should first step up enforcement against middlemen who operate without regard for the quota, which is based on the capacity of Hong Kong hospitals. These unscrupulous agents are not just straining our medical resources, they are also jeopardising the safety of the mothers and babies by sending them to emergency wards without bookings. Such irresponsible acts must not be tolerated.

With one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, Hong Kong may be able to count on the newborn children to provide our city with young people. Instead of shutting these women out, we should try to ensure an orderly flow, which would be in the interests of Hong Kong hospitals and mainland mothers alike. With good planning and implementation, the crisis can turned into an opportunity.

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