Society

107,919 mainland babies born in HK in last decade

By Yan Weijue (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-08-02 14:39

A mainland-powered baby boom in Hong Kong during last ten years could hamper the development and social order of the city, Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po reported Monday.

According to statistics revealed by the government, the annual number of births by mainland parents has witnessed a sharp 42 times increase in last decade, from 709 in 2000 to 29,766 in 2009, with the total number 107,919.

The statistics also show that in 2039, an estimated 43,000 deliveries in Hong Kong by mainland parents will account for 48 percent of the total 89,3000. Authorities worry the baby boom will cause trouble for the city's current housing and education sectors.

It's believed mainlanders choose Hong Kong for giving birth due to hefty fines for breaking the one-child policy in the Chinese mainland. Other reasons include better health service, cheaper cost for kindergarten education, more job opportunities and permanent residency for the child.