EditorialSmuggling of blood samples to identify gender must be halted

Thanks to growing integration and travel convenience, what is banned on the mainland can be done in Hong Kong. A case in point is the cross-border smuggling of blood samples for fetal sex identification. While the use of technologies to identify a baby’s gender before birth is common in Hong Kong and elsewhere, it is outlawed on the mainland to discourage abortion. The growing trend for mainland Chinese to get around these restrictions warrants more vigorous enforcement actions from the authorities on both sides.

The mainland law prohibits gender screening for non-medical purposes to avoid gender selection and abortion. But the relaxation of the one-child policy means more couples want a second child of a different sex from their firstborn. Whether the tests have fuelled more abortions on the mainland remains unclear. But if online comments from parents are any reference, they seem to be prepared to make tough decisions if the baby is not of the preferred sex.

Hong Kong arguably cannot do much in this respect. But it is still incumbent upon the authorities and the medical profession to explore ways to curb the trend. Morally, the city is facilitating activities that are expressly outlawed in another jurisdiction. Considering the relatively lax supervision of abortion across the border, the gender-testing service provided by local professionals carries heavy moral baggage. Currently, the existing professional guidelines require laboratories to carry out gender tests only upon referrals by registered doctors. But the underground nature of the business makes medical supervision unlikely. In any case, there are grounds for investigation.

Hong Kong health authorities have received dozens of cases referred by the Customs and Excise Department since 2015, but no prosecutions have been made so far. Unless the incoming blood samples are suspected to be infectious and therefore require a permit under the law, the imports breach no local laws. But given the public health implications arising from a surge in the import of blood samples, stronger enforcement action is called for. The government should work closely with the medical profession and mainland Chinese authorities to stamp out the trade.