The growing number of women from mainland giving birth in Hong Kong is putting great pressure on the region's maternity department.

內地孕婦赴港產子擠爆香港醫院

新華社報道，香港特區政府食物及衛生局局長周一岳30日表示，越來越多的內地孕婦來港產子，對香港婦產科的服務造成壓力。

根據香港基本法，出生在香港的孩子即屬香港永久性居民。一些內地居民為此特意到香港產子。去年在香港出生的嬰兒有將近一半系大陸孕婦所生。統計數字顯示，2010年約有8.8萬名嬰兒在香港出生，其中內地孕婦在港所生嬰兒約4.1萬名。

他說，香港醫院管理局提供的服務，會優先考慮照顧香港本地孕婦。

Too many mainlanders giving birth in HK

York Y N Chow, secretary for Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau, said Wednesday that the growing number of women from mainland giving birth in Hong Kong is putting great pressure on the region's maternity department, Xinhua reported.

Almost half of last year's births in Hong Kong were by mainland women who seek to give their children a permanent resident status. Hong Kong recorded 88,000 births last year, 41,000 of which were births by mainland women. According to Hong Kong law, anyone born in the region automatically has permanent resident status.

Chow said medical services should give priority to local women.

(China.org.cn April 1, 2011)