Mainland woman jailed for staying at airport to await baby

Xie Miaoling was heavily pregnant when she arrived in Hong Kong on a Dragon Airlines flight from Bangladesh on July 14 last year.

She was supposed to fly back to Guangzhou after transiting in the city.

However, Xie, whose baby was due at any time, refused to board her flight to Guangzhou, claiming she did not feel well and needed to stay in the airport’s restricted zone for transit passengers.

Shortly afterward, Xie disappeared.

A week later, on July 21, she suddenly emerged and asked for assistance from Dragon Airlines staff.

She was taken to hospital, where she delivered her baby.

Xie, 26, confessed in a Tsuen Wan magistrate's court Wednesday to staying illegally in a prohibited zone at the airport.

She was sentenced to six months in prison, Apple Daily reported Thursday.

Hospital Authority figures show that there were 254 emergency delivery cases last year for non-local pregnant women, of whom 98 came from the mainland.

Having a baby in Hong Kong is the dream of many a mainland woman, as the child will automatically qualify for permanent residence in the city.

To be allowed entry to Hong Kong, a mainland woman who is at least 28 weeks pregnant must have a letter issued by a hospital in the city confirming an appointment for the baby's delivery.

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