Local mothers in protest over beds shortage
Monday, January 16, 2012 The Standard
Despite the rain, about 400 mothers-to-be, young couples and parents wheeling their infants in prams yesterday marched from Victoria Park to the Government Headquarters in Tamar to protest against the shortage of maternity beds.
With blue ribbons tied around their left wrists to signify unity and carrying banners proclaiming "Reclaim the rights of Hong Kong moms and children," "Defend order and culture of our home city," and "Stop the abuse of local public resources," the protesters, supported by 74,000 on Facebook, said it is time to say "no" to mainland parents giving birth in Hong Kong."
In response, Hospital Authority chief executive Leung Pak-yin said the authority will consider admitting fewer expectant women from the mainland during the Year of the Dragon.
Leung said some public hospitals have already stopped accepting advance bookings by mainlanders.
The spokeswoman for the protest group, Yeung Ka-lee, said local mothers are upset at the government's incompetence in formulating a long-term population policy.
Vocabulary
1. Chief executive
2. Government Headquarters in Tamar
3. Hospital Authority
4. Local public resources
5. Mainlanders
6. Population policy
7. Protestor
8. Victoria Park
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