Having a Baby: Pregnancy and Birth in Hong Kong

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Having a Baby: Pregnancy and Birth in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is well-equipped with medical facilities and compares favourably with other developed countries. Government-funded medical services are available to all eligible residents at subsidised cost. There are also private facilities available.

• A full list of public hospitals is available from the Hospital Authority's website: Click here
• For a list of private medical institutions: Click here

There is a government-funded system of pre- and post-natal care for mothers and babies, plus programmes of vaccinations and care for young children.

Pregnancy and Ante-Natal Care

Any woman who believes she may be pregnant should start by having the pregnancy confirmed, ideally by her doctor. To find a local doctor refer to the Yellow Pages or use the link above for an English-speaking one. Many practices have English-speaking doctors. Ante-natal care can be undertaken by professionals in private practice or via government-run clinics.

The Family Health Service provides a comprehensive range of services for women under 64 as well as babies and young children from birth to five years. These services are accessed via 31 Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and 3 Women's Health Centres (WHCs). Ante-natal services in these government-run clinics are free of charge for eligible residents.

• For contact details for these centres: Click here
• For information regarding how to qualify for free treatment and a scale of charges for non-eligible residents, consult the Family Health Service site: Click here
• For opening times for the centres: Click here
• MCHC hotline Tel: 2112 9900

The MCHCs operate a shared-care programme, in collaboration with the obstetric department of public hospitals. These regular check-ups monitor the whole pregnancy and delivery.

Once the pregnancy has been confirmed contact the nearest centre – many operate a booking system for new appointments or give a time window when new cases should attend. Much of this information is available online. After an initial visit, the pregnant woman will be issued with a record card which she must take on subsequent visits.

On her first appointment the woman should take the required documentation and a urine sample with her.

• For details of the documents needed: Click here

Appointments typically include checks on urine, blood pressure and foetal movement and heartbeat. If any abnormalities are detected the woman will be referred to an obstetrician. Further information can be obtained from the Department of Health, Family Health Service.

Advice and organisations

Educational programmes on pregnancy and childcare-related topics are available at MCHCs. Other organisations such as La Leche League also offer prenatal advice and classes. Some services are free of charge. The majority of public hospitals provide ante-natal classes for a small fee.

Midwifery services and private organisations can support women through the pregnancy, birth and beyond. Private hospitals also offer pre-natal care at a cost. Contact the hospital directly for details of services and charges.

• The English version of the Family Health Service website has downloadable leaflets on pre-natal care and care of a newborn: Click here

The Birth

There are a number of government and private hospitals with maternity wings. Costs vary between facilities. Many hospitals have their own websites where they publicise their facilities and charges.

Government hospitals are heavily subsidised but have experienced problems recently with women coming from mainland China to give birth in their facilities and then return home again as Hong Kong law states that a child born in Hong Kong to a parent from China has a right to Hong Kong residency. This has led to public hospitals being full and unable to take women wishing to give birth in them. The Government is trying to address this issue to avoid further problems.

Pregnant women are advised to book their hospital as soon as possible in the pregnancy, particularly if they wish to make use of public facilities. Some women choose to book both a public and private hospital in case one is not available. The Community Advice Bureau can provides information on the English-speaking maternity facilities.

Private hospitals are popular with many expatriates but they have been criticised for being too quick to deliver babies by Caesarean section. According to recent research one in two births in a private Hong Kong hospital is by C-section.

A woman not eligible for subsidised or free care in a government hospital will "go private". In the private sector, doctors' fees may be charged separately and on top of the hospital fees as they work independently of them. In the event of any emergency procedure the costs in a private hospital will increase dramatically. Be aware that not all health insurance policies will cover maternity or childbirth. 

The length of time spent in hospital will depend on the hospital and on the circumstances surrounding the birth; public hospitals typically limit stays to three days while stays of five days are common in private hospitals.

Home-births

Home-births are not easy to organise. It is possible, however, to arrange a home-birth privately with a midwife as long as there are no complications.

Natural childbirth (that is, with minimal medical intervention) is also popular and can still take place in a hospital maternity wing. Private midwife organisations specialise in supplying midwives for this purpose.

Post-Natal Care

After delivery, all women are provided with post-natal checkups and advice on family planning and contraception via the government's Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs). The centres also help post-natal mothers by setting up support groups and experience-sharing sessions, as well as providing individual counselling if this is necessary. Details of the fees and charges for these services are available on the Family Health Service website. Again eligible women will find that many of these services are provided free of charge.

Many hospitals or MCHCs run weekly baby groups for women with young babies.

• For information on postnatal care from the Family Health Service website: Click here
• La Leche League also offers support and practical help with matters such as breast feeding
• Women with particular concerns can also approach the Community Advice Bureau and their English speaking staff
• Community Advice Bureau
  Tel: 2815 5444
  Website

Registering the Birth

Parents have 42 days to register a birth. As long as the birth is registered within the period there is no fee. If a child was born in hospital this should be done at the local registry office and the child need not be present. However, if the birth did not take place in hospital it is necessary to go to the Births and Deaths General Registry Office.

• The Government's Immigration Department publishes instructions on registering the birth of a child on their website: Click here
• For full details on registering the birth: Click here
• For a list of registry office addresses: Click here

The birth can be registered by either parent (if they are married), or by the mother if she is unmarried. The following documents, plus copies, are necessary:

• Marriage certificate of the parents (if applicable)
• Hong Kong Identity Card of both parents, or proof of identity/passport

It is wise to ask for a copy of the certified entry of the birth. Expatriates may then register the birth with their own consulate.

Vaccinations

The Family Health Service oversees the care of newborn babies and young children. Currently the Hong Kong Department of Health recommends that young children are vaccinated against nine infectious diseases.

• Full details of these and the ages at which the vaccinations are usually given can be found on the Family Health Service website: Click here

Parents can have their children vaccinated at an MCHC or older children may be vaccinated at school. It is also possible to have vaccinations done by the family doctor or in some circumstances return to the hospital where the birth took place . The government-recommended vaccinations are provided free of charge to all eligible citizens.

Private hospitals and doctors may advise additional vaccines to those which the government recommends. There will be a charge for these.

Working and Maternity Leave

Legislation protects pregnant women in the workplace and women who work more than 18 hours a week. It is in a woman's best interests to let her employer know as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed.

The relevant legislation is the Employment Ordinance (Labour Department 2001) which refers to maternity protection and guarantees the following:

• A continuous period of 10 weeks' maternity leave for any woman who has been employed under a continuous contract at least 40 weeks prior to the start of maternity leave. Women will need to obtain a Certificate of Pregnancy from their doctor specifying the due date. Maternity leave begins between two and four weeks before this date. This period is paid at a rate of 4/5 of the usual wage
• An additional period of no more than four weeks leave if there is illness or disability as a result of the pregnancy or the birth
• Attendance at any medical examination relating to the pregnancy
• Any post-natal treatment or miscarriage will be treated as sickness and will be paid
• An employer may not dismiss a pregnant woman from the date of medical confirmation of the pregnancy to the date she is due to return to work as long as she is employed on a continuous contract and she has notified the employer of the pregnancy. (A woman may still be dismissed for serious misconduct or if on a probationary period.) This part of the legislation is very important and employers who ignore it can find themselves in serious trouble. There have been cases of unfair dismissal and discrimination due to pregnancy which have been well publicised. Women who suspect that their employer's attitude or treatment has changed due to their pregnant status should seek professional advice
• An employer may not give a pregnant woman work that is likely to injure her or jeopardise the pregnancy

Many international firms will offer additional benefits to those listed above.

• For more information on maternity leave consult the Hong Kong Labour Department website
• For more information on women's rights in Hong Kong: Click here

Adoption

Expatriates living in Hong Kong and wanting to adopt must have spent at least twelve months in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Applications are handled by the Hong Kong Social and Welfare Department. 

• For further information from the SWD: Click here  
• SWD Adoption Unit
  At: 4/F, Harbour Building, 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
  Tel: 2852 3107
  Fax: 2851 9189

Further Information

• The Hong Kong Family Planning Association
• Midwives Council of Hong Kong
• Social and Welfare Department