The Legislative Council debated on a motion on Wednesday, urging the government to review the population policy, with particular reference to mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong. Many lawmakers said those babies born here not only strained obstetric services for local mothers, but also put pressure on healthcare, welfare, education and housing services in Hong Kong.

Chief Secretary for Administration Stephen Lam responded that the question of babies born of parents who are both non-Hong Kong permanent residents should be viewed positively as they may become new blood of the aging population.

Liberal Party lawmaker Vincent Fang, who raised the motion, asked the government to review the population policy suitable for long-term development.

Albert Ho of the Democratic Party and Ip Kwok-him of the Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong blamed the chief secretary-led steering committee for not announcing any population policy reviews since 2003, leaving the population policy to fall behind the current situation.

Ho questioned if children born of non-local parents could ease the aging population question. Again he proposed the Hong Kong SAR government strive for the authority to vet the daily quota of 150 single-entry permit applicants.

New People's Chairman Regina Ip said the local population could increase by about 90,000 per year (over 50,000 single-entry permit holders and 40,000 children born of non-local citizens). She said she was worried the situation would be out of control and asked the government to seek for an interpretation of the relevant Basic Law provisions on abode rights of such type of children from the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said local citizens are the primary target recipients of healthcare services in Hong Kong. And only when there are surplus service quotas will the healthcare services and particularly obstetric services be then provided to non-Hong Kong citizens. Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said the power to vet the single-entry permit applicants rests with the mainland authorities.

During the motion debate over the population policy review, the issue of many mainland women rushing to the emergency wards of local hospitals at the last minute before delivery, which affects local people seeking genuine emergency services, was also raised by Liberal Party lawmaker Vincent Fang. He urged the government to review the issue of children whose parents are non-citizens and whether they should be granted the right of abode in Hong Kong.

Wong Kwok-hing from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions said the mainland wives of Hong Kong citizens should be differentiated, sympathizing their plight of not obtaining obstetric services in Hong Kong.

joseph@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/12/2012 page1)