The Hong Kong Hospital Authority announced Friday the details of obstetric package booking at public hospitals for non-local mothers and that 700 bookings have been made.

According to the authority, starting from Feb. 1, non-local pregnant women who planned to deliver in Hong Kong public hospitals should visit the outpatient department counter for booking antenatal service, which costs 39,000 HK dollars (about US$5,000), and a certificate which will allow them to enter the city again.

The package covers three days and two nights of hospitalization in a general ward, one antenatal attendance and labor service. Those who have not made the booking in advance and give labor at public hospitals will be charged 48,000 HK dollars (about US$6,154).

To curb the number of non-local women delivering in Hong Kong, the government announced on Jan. 16 that from Feb. 1, women who are pregnant for seven months will be prevented from entering the city except that they have already made appointment with a hospital.

Director of the authority Cheung Wai-lun said 697 non-local pregnant women have made appointments with local public hospitals one week before the new booking system starts. Places for non-local expectant mothers in some hospitals were already fully filled in the next few months.

Cheung said that the new system aims to ensure local women's interest in receiving proper medical service and care, and to prevent non-local expectant mothers from rushing to the hospital just before they were about to deliver.

The authority has set a quota of 1,800 booking places for non-local women this year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2007)