Guangdong to slap fines on 2nd-child birth tourists to HK(2)

The Court of Final Appeal ruled in a case that Chinese citizens born in Hong Kong enjoy right of abode in the city regardless of their parents' non-local status, giving thousands of expectant mainland mothers a legal basis to flock to Hong Kong to give birth.

Noting that penalties for breaking the family planning policy in the Chinese mainland have a limited effect in preventing the influx, Ma Li, former director of the China Population Development and Research Center, told the Global Times that limits set by the HK government would be more effective.

"There will be no point for these people to rush to Hong Kong to give birth any more if the babies can no longer automatically get permanent residency," Ma said. "But the regional government may be reluctant to make changes for the time being to avoid being accused of discrimination."

Ma added that high medical costs for deliveries have also brought significant profits for local hospitals, and that could be one reason why Hong Kong did not take immediate action.

Zhou Zhi, a Shenzhen resident who spent over 250,000 yuan ($39,700) last year to send her wife to Hong Kong to give birth to their daughter via an agency in Shenzhen, told the Global Times that fees for the whole process have soared, but the expense was worth it for the sake of his child.

"I think parents willing to spend such large amounts of money on their children would not care about the so-called family planning policy penalty. Hong Kong could mean a better future for their children," he said.

Agencies in the Chinese mainland predicted a surge in mothers-to-be going to North America this year as Hong Kong tightens its policies.

Li Jianmin, a vice president of the China Population Association, warned that governments in the Chinese mainland should pay attention to the potential risks of such emigration tides, especially of the young labor force.

"Productivity could be affected if young workers and intellectuals continue to leave. In the long run, the mainland has to shoulder great burdens resulting from an aging population, and the economy will suffer a lack of energy and vitality just like Japan and South European countries are experiencing," Li said.