More mainland women will risk giving birth in Hong Kong hospital emergency rooms from next year, when the number of maternity beds for non-local mothers in public and private hospitals is capped at 34,400, a family rights group said after the health minister announced birth quotas. Under the system, 3,400 places at eight public hospitals will be allocated for bookings from non-local women next year, compared to about 10,000 last year. In the 10 private hospitals - one of which is still in negotiation with the government - bookings from non-locals will be capped at 31,000, down 7 per cent on the 33,000 this year. Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow Yat-ngok said: 'To ease the tremendous pressure on the overall obstetric and neonatal care services, and to ensure that local pregnant women are given priority for services, the public and private medical sectors agreed to set a quota for non-local expectant mothers.' Lam Tsun-fai of the Mainland-Hong Kong Families Rights Association was disappointed that the government did not offer preference to mainland women with Hong Kong husbands. 'It is so unfair. Our children should have the right of abode here and our wives should be entitled to medical services in Hong Kong,' he said. Lam said the number of women showing up in emergency rooms when already in labour was likely to rise as a result of the restrictions. 'It is very likely more mainlanders will give birth in emergency rooms. Yes, it is dangerous, but many do not have any other choice.' The curbs have been introduced in an effort to ease the pressure on maternity wards in the face of a surge in births that began in 2006, fuelled by an influx of mainland mothers wanting their children to have Hong Kong residency. In April, public hospitals banned mainlanders from giving birth here until the end of the year. The number of mainlanders giving birth in emergency rooms rose to 102 in May, compared to 86 in April and 71 in March. Chow said the city's hospital services should not have to take into account a patient's relationships with another person or spouse. He warned mainland women not to risk giving birth in emergency rooms without antenatal check-ups or records. 'This is extremely dangerous behaviour, putting both the mother and child at risk. We have seen very tragic cases in these circumstances,' he said. Non-local women who were pregnant would need pre-natal check-ups in Hong Kong to see if they met restrictions on giving birth. To help prevent a misuse of emergency services, the Department of Health will provide certificates on confirmed antenatal and delivery bookings to public and private hospitals. These will show details of the women's obstetricians and antenatal check-up dates. Non-local pregnant women will need to produce the certificates when entering Hong Kong at immigration control points. Private Hospital Association chairman Alan Lau Kwok-lam said hospitals agreed to the cap in response to calls from the community, but he admitted that hospitals like Precious Blood Hospital and Union Hospital might be adversely affected. 'While general hospitals have more sources of revenue, some rely heavily on maternity services, especially to mainlanders,' Lau said. The government is still in talks with the Precious Blood Hospital in Sham Shui Po about cutting the number of mainlanders giving birth there from 3,600 to just over 3,000. The hospital has been resisting the cut, saying it relies on these customers to fund its other services. 'The hospital has had obstetric services only from 2009, so we have to see how to adjust the quota appropriately,' Chow said.