Mistresses wary of sending children to SAR fathers
Mainland mistresses say they will not send their children across the border unless they can go as well.
One mistress said: 'The child should be able to go to Hong Kong because he is a Hong Kong man's son. If the man is a responsible person, he will take care of the child once he gets over there. But I wouldn't feel comfortable letting my child go over there by himself.' Kwok Li-li, a Shenzhen hairstylist whose clients are mostly mistresses, said many of the men were reluctant to sponsor their illegitimate children to go to Hong Kong.
'The economy is not good over there and the men already have sons and daughters by their wives,' she said.
'They would have to rent another flat for the child and probably hire a maid. If the kids go over there, there won't be anyone to take care of them because the mistresses are not allowed to go.' Mistresses must prove the father-child relationships through DNA tests, which can cost up to $8,000 on the mainland.
Su Ruiqi, a store owner in Hai Fu Garden, a village where mistresses live, said some women had their children by different men and would be hesitant to put their children through DNA tests.
'A woman told me she wouldn't give her son a DNA test because he is not the Hong Kong man's son,' Mr Su said.
But many mistresses saw the policy as a ticket to a better future for their children, Ms Kwok said.
'They were thrilled when they heard the news. They want their kids to get a good education in Hong Kong, but it's going to have serious consequences for Hong Kong.'
