I am writing in response to the New York Times article "Hong Kong Tries to Stop Mainlander Baby Boom." In general the article states that many Chinese women go to great lengths to make sure that their babies are born in Hong Kong. The government is trying to discourage them. Chinese citizens from the mainland will have to pay $5,000 for their hospital care before they are even allowed to enter Hong Kong. Thousands of women from the mainland come to Hong Kong to give birth because it entitles their babies to permanent residency here. The benefits include a free education and subsidized health care as part of Hong Kong’s British-inspired welfare policies. Hong Kong residents pay as little as $12.80 to give birth at a hospital because of extensive government subsidies. The number of babies born in Hong Kong to mainland mothers surged to 15,000 last year from several hundred a year in the late 1990s. The article stated that the ward was so busy that the regular nurses were joined by retired pediatric nurses who had been called in to help give the babies bottles, burp them and change their diapers. Beijing officials have been quiet on Hong Kong’s restrictions. Mainland leaders seldom comment publicly on issues involving Hong Kong, to avoid being accused of interfering with the city’s autonomy, but they wield enormous influence on a wide range of issues.
I am not totally sure how to feel about this article. As an American it almost seems natural for me to be outraged that these women are having restrictions placed on them about where they may receive healthcare. It seems that in America we are obssessed with human rights and being free. However China is not America and when reading this article one needs to put themselves in the Chinese mindset. I don't think it's fair for us to impose our western beliefs on China. I was wanting some feedback on whether or not China has quality healthcare anywhere else in their country because if not maybe funds would be best spent if they were used to improve and expand upon Hong Kong's hospitals. Just a thought.
I am not totally sure how to feel about this article. As an American it almost seems natural for me to be outraged that these women are having restrictions placed on them about where they may receive healthcare. It seems that in America we are obssessed with human rights and being free. However China is not America and when reading this article one needs to put themselves in the Chinese mindset. I don't think it's fair for us to impose our western beliefs on China. I was wanting some feedback on whether or not China has quality healthcare anywhere else in their country because if not maybe funds would be best spent if they were used to improve and expand upon Hong Kong's hospitals. Just a thought.
posted by Ashley at 10:22 PM
1 Comments:
I am also writing in response to the article "Hong Kong tries to Stop Mainlander Baby Boom." As the previous person has stated Mainland Chinese citizens will have to pay a $5,000 fee for hospital care before entering the city. Those who are seven months pregnant and haven't paid the fee will not be allowed to enter the city. The reason these women wish to have their children in Hong Kong is because it entitles them to permanent residency. This would assure that they have subsidized health care and well as a free education.
I don't think that it is really fair for us in the United States to judge the Chinese for doing this because this is what kind of in a way what we do with the Mexican Immigrants. On the other hand though, an American citizen can have a child anywhere in America and that baby will have the same rights as any other child. The truth is not the same for China, because if it were women would not be fighting to have their child born in Hong Kong. I think the solution to this is to have some sort of national health care system. I feel every nation should require that all citizens have health care. Health care is not a privilege it is a right. I also feel that education should be something that more money is spent on.
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