Press Releases
SFH on delivery statistics of non-local mothers and milk powder
Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary
for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media stand-up session in the
Legislative Council Complex today (December 7):
Reporter: (About the surging number of non-local expectant mothers going to
Accident & Emergency Departments at the last minute for deliveries.)
Secretary for Food and Health: Since we announced the quota system for both
the public and private hospitals in April this year, we have been seeing
less numbers of Mainland pregnant women being registered in our hospitals.
We expect that in 2012, we should have less numbers of Mainland mothers
giving birth in Hong Kong. Of course, the concern is also for Mainland women
who did not register but yet are able to reach our hospitals through the
Accident & Emergency Departments and try to give birth in our public
hospitals. I have time and again advised them against doing this because
this will pose extra danger to themselves and their babies. It is important
to note that maternity service should be done with planning and
pre-arrangement.
Reporter: Will the Government do anything to stop this phenomenon?
Secretary for Food and Health: We are doing several things to reduce this
type of incident although it is of course not totally foolproof. We have
stopped pregnant women from the Mainland (without the certificate on
confirmed antenatal and delivery booking) from entering Hong Kong at the
border. We have been doing that on a regular basis. We have also ensured
that the hospitals are equipped to deal with any emergency. I have time and
again said that this type of pregnant women from the Mainland may not be
able to receive the same standard of service as those women who have
prenatal check-ups as well as pre-arrangement.
Reporter: (About measures to totally ban this type of pregnant women from
Mainland.)
Secretary for Food and Health: I do not think we will be able to achieve
that because there are many people crossing the border every day, with
different means.
Reporter: (About inspection of milk powder.)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Centre for Food Safety has already
enquired about the import of Meiji STEP milk powder that is for nine months
and over babies. At the moment, we have done a lot of tests. Since the
Fukushima incident, we have checked 140 milk powder samples from Japan and
49 of them come from the Meiji brand. So far, we have not detected any
radiation from those samples but we are continuing to collect and check
samples from the market. We are also liaising with the Japanese Government
to counter-check the batch numbers (of the milk powder containing
radioactive substances) to ascertain that the affected products have not
been imported to Hong Kong.
Reporter: (About stepping up surveillance.)
Secretary for Food and Health: We are still checking every batch of milk
powder, or food products from Japan. Our surveillance is quite vigilant and
we have to consider follow-up for any report from elsewhere. Even though it
does not affect Hong Kong products, we have to monitor whether there will be
similar products coming to Hong Kong. This way of surveillance will continue
until we feel that it is suitable to relax. But we will not relax right now.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:56
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