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HK fee deters `maternity tourists' from mainland

The number of women crossing the border from China to Hong Kong to give birth has dropped sharply since a US$2,500 birthing fee was introduced, a news report said yesterday.

The charge, introduced for non-Hong Kong residents five months ago, has led to a 23 percent drop in the number of Chinese women giving birth in the city's public hospitals.

The fee was introduced to stem a flood of Chinese women coming to Hong Kong to give birth, known as "maternity tourists" seeking better health care and Hong Kong residency for their children.

The number of women crossing the border from China to give birth escalated 25 percent year-on-year from 2004 to 2005 to hit a new high of nearly 14,000 last year.

Women from China have accounted for 26 percent of births in the city of 6.8 million over the past three years, stretching public hospital resources to the limit as border controls are eased.

There are no pregnancy checks on women visiting Hong Kong from China on tourist visas who choose to give birth in the wealthy former British colony so their children can claim residency.

Some mainland tour companies are said to advertise "maternity tours" to Hong Kong, taking advantage of the substantial easing of cross-border travel restrictions since 2003.

Until the end of last year, mainland Chinese women were charged HK$3,300 (US$425) and around 10 percent would leave hospital without paying.

Now, non-resident women must pay an upfront fee of HK$20,000 for a three-day stay with a fee of HK$3,300 for every subsequent day.
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