Hong Kongs requests China to halt influx of pregnant womenFebruary 6, 2012 - 17:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Talks were held between Hong Kong and Chinese officials Monday, February 6 over ways to combat an influx of pregnant women from the mainland crossing the border to give birth in the city. Tens of thousands of mainlanders are giving birth in the wealthy former British colony, straining the city's public hospitals. A newspaper advertisement taken out by a group of citizens last week depicted mainland visitors as locusts. Raymond Tam, secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, on Monday met Zhu Xiaodan, governor of neighbouring Guangdong province. Tam said he wanted officials in Guangdong to help crack down on cross-border agents who help pregnant women give birth in Hong Kong. Zhu promised a solution but did not give any details, M&C reported, citing DPA. In 2010, some 42,000 of Hong Kong's 89,000 births were to women from the mainland, whose children qualify for residency, free education and health care if born in the city. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |