Mainland expecting mothers cram private HK hospitals

By Jane Chen | October 21, 2009, Wednesday |

Online Edition

EXPECTING mothers from China's mainland are cramming into privately run Hong Kong hospitals after the regional hospital authority last week closed delivery services at public hospitals to mainlanders to cope with an expected local baby boom.

Two private hospitals, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital and Union Hospital, said their beds for expecting mothers have been booked up until March, today's Guangzhou Daily reported.

Hong Kong has witnessed a sharp increase of mainlanders opting to give birth there, with the number skyrocketing 40-fold to 25,000 in 2008 from 620 in 2001, Hong Kong Hospital Authority's data indicated.

Public hospitals are usually a first choice because of their lower prices.

The closing of delivery services at public hospitals is yet another measures the Hong Kong Hospital Authority has adopted to discourage pregnant mainlanders whom some locals have blamed for taking Hong Kong's public welfare resources from the natives.

Nation

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Mainland expecting mothers cram private HK hospitals

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