Publications and Press Releases

10 January 2014

Three Mainland women who were each charged with one count of breach of condition of stay pleaded guilty at Sha Tin Magistrates' Courts yesterday (January 9) and today (January 10) and were sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment.

The defendants arrived separately in Hong Kong as visitors on May 18, June 11 and July 25 last year and overstayed in Hong Kong when their limits of stay had expired. The defendants were then arrested on November 15, November 17 and December 2 last year when rushing to Accident and Emergency Departments for delivery without prior booking.

During the trials, all three defendants admitted that they had been pregnant before arrival in Hong Kong. They also confessed to having no prior booking for obstetric services in Hong Kong hospitals.

"The Immigration Department is concerned about the situation of overstaying Mainland pregnant women seeking to give birth in Hong Kong. Great efforts are made to strengthen the examination of Mainland pregnant women at the control points. Vigorous enforcement actions have also been taken to combat immigration offences committed by Mainland pregnant women and the persons who have aided or abetted Mainland pregnant women to give birth in Hong Kong by illegal means," an Immigration Department spokesman said.

The spokesman warned that under the laws of Hong Kong, visitors who breach their conditions of stay will be liable to prosecution under the laws of Hong Kong and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.