Beijing steps up crackdown on sex tests for unborn babies
Agents undeterred despite tightening of controls over trafficking of blood samples to Hong Kong
Beijing is cracking down on pregnant mainlanders sending their blood samples across the border to check their babies' sex, in an effort to stop selective abortion.
But agents who arrange for such DNA tests in Hong Kong believe the move will have little impact on the thriving trade.
Fourteen government agencies, including the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the public security ministry, have been tasked to crack down on the illegal trade.
China has the world's highest sex ratio at birth - with 118 boys born for every 100 girls last year - because of selective abortion under a strict birth control policy in a culture that prefers boys.
It is illegal on the mainland to check the sex of an unborn child for non-medical reasons.
A circular issued on Wednesday instructed the authorities to step up internet censorship of posts advertising such services as well as related search results.
Hospitals and clinics were told to increase supervision of staff drawing blood from pregnant women and border control officials were ordered to step up checks to stop the movement of unauthorised blood samples.