On April 25, 2012, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region (SAR) announced that private hospitals would cease admitting pregnant mainland Chinese women hoping to give birth in the city and obtain Hong Kong residency for their children beginning in 2013. In recent years, rising numbers of mainland mothers in Hong Kong hospitals have put pressure on the territory’s health system, and Hong Kong campaigners have pushed for limits. In early 2012, the issue became rancorous in Hong Kong, with many Hong Kong locals referring to mainland mothers seeking entry to the territory as “locusts.” In this cartoon, posted by artist Shang Haichun (商海春) to QQ.com, a pregnant couple with their bags packed ambles up to a door labeled “Come to Hong Kong to Give Birth”, but find that a large hand blocks their way.


David Bandurski

CMP Director

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