Press Releases

SFH on maternal and child health services (with photo)

Following is a transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after visiting Sheng Kung Hui Kindergarten Hong Kong (Central) today (July 4):

Reporter: (About over-crowding of pregnant women in Maternal and Child Health Centres.)

Secretary for Food and Health: As I have said earlier, we can see the gradual increase of babies receiving maternal and child health services in Hong Kong. Among the 31 centres that we have scattered all over Hong Kong, those in the Northern District are much busier because they are closer to the border. A large percentage of babies may be crossing the border to receive the services. According to statistics, about 16 per cent of the babies receiving service at the MCH (Maternal and Child Health Centres) have parents who are not Hong Kong residents. They might be living across the border and just come for the service. Another 30-odd per cent would be from families where one parent is not a Hong Kong resident. Among the 300,000 babies receiving service in the MCH in the last six years, about 51 per cent are from Hong Kong parents.

Reporter: (About setting a limit.)

Secretary for Food and Health: I think as long as they are having a right of receiving services in Hong Kong, we have to look after them. There is no difference between whether their parents are Hong Kong residents or non-Hong Kong residents. The important work that we need to do is to ensure that we have sufficient resources, and also the services in order to cope with them. So in the last few years, there has been an increasing number of doctors and nurses. We will be monitoring the situation, to increase the resources if available and also (to monitor) if the trend is still escalating.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)


Ends/Monday, July 4, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:23

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(Photo)