Hong Kong Sentences Woman for Birth Tourism

Amidst growing tensions over an influx of pregnant mainland mothers in the last few years, Hong Kong officials on February 13 sentenced a mainland woman to ten months in jail for acting as a birth tourism middleman.

According to the Hong Kong census, babies born to mainland mothers in Hong Kong totaled 41,000 in 2010, accounting for about 47 percent of all births, China Daily reported. The children are immediately entitled to Hong Kong's educational and social benefits, drawing criticism from Hong Kong residents who say they are a drain on public funds meant for locals.