The term "anchor babies in Hong Kong" ( zh, c=雙非嬰兒, links=no) refers to children born in Hong Kong whose parents (usually from
Mainland China
"Mainland China" is a geopolitical term defined as the territory governed by the People's Republic of China (including islands like Hainan or Chongming), excluding dependent territories of the PRC, and other territories within Greater China. ...
) are not
Hong Kong permanent residents.
Since 2003, an
Individual Visit Scheme targeted to boost the economy of Hong Kong has begun. It provides an opportunity for pregnant women visiting from Mainland China to give birth to their infants in Hong Kong. This entitles their children to the
right of abode in Hong Kong
Right of abode in Hong Kong entitles a person to live and work in the territory without any restrictions or conditions of stay. Someone who has that right is a Hong Kong permanent resident. Foreign nationals may acquire the right of abode afte ...
as well as the opportunity to benefit from Hong Kong's education system.
These pregnant women use local obstetric services through legal (e.g. births through reservation) or illegal (e.g. A&E births) ways. The large influx of visiting Mainland pregnant women causes a shortage of hospital resources, resulting in much criticism of visiting pregnant women and their anchor children, including labelling them as "locusts". Over 170,000 new births were anchor babies between 2001 and 2011 in which 32,653 were born in 2010.
LCQ4: Obstetric services
/ref>
CY Leung's first public announcement on policy as Chief Executive-elect was to impose a 'zero' quota on mainland mothers giving birth in Hong Kong. Leung further underlined that those who did may not be able to secure the right of abode for their offspring in Hong Kong.[Luk, Eddie (17 April 2012)]
"Door shuts on moms"
. ''The Standard''.
See also
*Birth tourism
Birth tourism is the practice of traveling to another country for the purpose of giving birth in that country. The main reason for birth tourism is to obtain citizenship for the child in a country with birthright citizenship (''jus soli''). Such ...
*Hong Kong–Mainland China conflict
Relations between people in Hong Kong and mainland China have been relatively tense since the early 2000s. Various factors have contributed, including different interpretations of the "one country, two systems" principle; policies of the Hong ...
*Right of abode in Hong Kong
Right of abode in Hong Kong entitles a person to live and work in the territory without any restrictions or conditions of stay. Someone who has that right is a Hong Kong permanent resident. Foreign nationals may acquire the right of abode afte ...
References
Law of Hong Kong
Hong Kong society
Immigration law
Tourism in Hong Kong
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