The Hospital Authority board has endorsed a proposal by which mainland women who have prepaid HK$39,000 for an obstetric package in public hospitals can get a refund of HK$20,000 if the pregnancy is terminated before they check in.
The decision prompted criticism by a political party and a support group for mainland wives that the refund is too small and followed a protest by about 40 people outside the authority headquarters.
Vice-chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, Greg So Kam-leung, an authority member, suggested it should, like the private hospitals, refund 70 per cent - HK$27,300.
But authority chairman Anthony Wu Ting-yuk said the HK$19,000 being kept was intended not only to cover the cost of the booking, but also to discourage non-locals from using the public services.
It was therefore difficult to compare it directly with the practice of private hospitals.
After discussion, most board members agreed with the HK$20,000 refund, which is expected to be gazetted and implemented late next month. A retrospective refund to cover the period from February 1 will be allowed.