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SCMP Reporter

HONG KONG'S controversial sex selection clinic has recorded its first birth - a 3.8-kilogram, bouncing baby boy.

  The historic delivery was described as a success by the Gender Choice Clinic, which has caused a stir since it opened a year ago.

  The clinic has 180 couples on its books, 70 of whom have been treated. The next birth - scans already show the baby is a boy - is expected within two weeks.

  Since opening in Wyndham Street, Central, the clinic has faced a barrage of opposition from politicians, medical experts and pro-life and women's groups.

  Politicians in both England and Hong Kong have described the procedure as immoral.

  But come next year, the clinic's controversial methods will be controlled by a new code of conduct and licensing body.

  To date, the centre has recorded 12 pregnancies. 'Unfortunately, three of these have miscarried,' said Dr Alan Rose, a chemical pathologist, who along with his partner Dr Peter Liu Kin-shing, a Hong Kong-born biochemist, set up Gender Choice along with its sister clinic in London.

  'This is not abnormal when you take into account the average age of women registered with the clinic is 37. With that in mind, one does expect a certain miscarriage rate.

  'I had planned to be here for the Hong Kong clinic's first birth but the baby was 10 days premature.

  'We are delighted with the results so far and the baby was born big and healthy.'   Critics of sex selection say it is unethical to choose the gender of a baby and claim it will lead to populations being distorted, especially in China and India, where boys are still seen as a better economic bet.

  'If anything, our procedures help to balance out populations,' Dr Rose said.

  'We have rigid guidelines that insist couples must already have a child. We offer to balance the family. For example, if they already have a daughter then they must opt for a boy, and vice versa.'   The two doctors use an insemination technique developed in the US by Dr Ron Ericsson in 1973, in which sperm are separated in a centrifuge. Those carrying the desired chromosome are implanted in the woman.

  Under new government proposals, all medical institutions carrying out 'scientifically assisted human reproduction' procedures will have to be specially licensed and adhere to the code of conduct guidelines which are to be drawn up before Christmas.

  The Health and Welfare Department is currently drafting the proposals to put before the Legislative Council next May. In the meantime, a provisional body and code of conduct could be in place as early as the end of the year.



Sex choice centre delivers with first boy - and a second is on the way