Babies born to Mainland overstayers increased about 10% in the first 10 months of this year. But they should not put pressure on our population and social services due to the decline in Hong Kong's overall childbirth rate.

This was the message from Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee in the Legislative Council today. He said Mainland overstayers giving birth here rose from 6,442 in 2000 to 7,300 last year.

The first 10 months of this year saw 6,462 births - an increase of 9.6% over the same period last year. It accounted for 16.5% of babies born in Hong Kong during the period.

Mr Lee said there is also a decline in the total number of childbirths in Hospital Authority hospitals, so their obstetric services have been able to cope with the workload.

About 84% of the spouses of these Mainland women are Hong Kong residents. Children of Hong Kong residents can apply to settle here, even if they are born on the Mainland.

Hong Kong's enforcement agencies will arrest, prosecute and repatriate all overstayers including pregnant women in accordance with established policy, he said. But pregnancy is not against the law, so the Government does not see the need to take targeted measures against these women.

Nor will it ask Mainland authorities to tighten the approval of applications by pregnant Mainlanders to visit Hong Kong.