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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after attending the Legislative Council Health Services Panel meeting in the Legislative Council Complex this morning (March 12):
Reporter: (on amending the Basic Law to deter the problem of Mainland women coming to Hong Kong to give birth)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Government is very clear in terms of whether we will interpret the Basic Law or amending the Basic Law. The present situation requires us to have administrative measures to ensure that the number of Mainland women giving birth in Hong Kong is under control. So far, we have been able to establish the quota system and also the various measures to enable that the number of (Mainland) pregnant women giving birth in Hong Kong is within our capacity. We are discussing the (delivery) quota for next year. It is much more important to access, first of all, the capacity situation. We are seeing an increasing trend of Hong Kong women giving birth in Hong Kong. So the delivery quota (for Mainland pregnant women) for next year will definitely be reduced.
Reporter: (on delivery quota in 2013)
Secretary for Food and Health: There is no quota for Hong Kong women. With the same service capacity, it is expected the number of Mainland mothers giving birth in Hong Kong will be less than this year.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, March 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:16
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