Chongqing Morning Post reporter made various contacts and found Xiao Yu (a pseudonym), the Hong Kong baby who is already 5 years old. Xiao Yu's father, Mr. Xiao, is a Chongqing resident, while his mother, Ms. Li, is from Chengdu. Seven years ago, after getting married in Chongqing, they moved to Guangzhou because of Mr. Xiao’s job transfer.
"Many friends around us went to Hong Kong to give birth, making it a trend, a fashion," said Ms. Li. "Everyone was talking about which hospital was good, which one was famous, so we wanted to have our baby in that hospital."
In early 2007, Mr. Xiao reserved a bed at Hong Kong French Hospital (St. Teresa's Hospital) and paid 120,000 yuan. In September of the same year, his son, Xiao Yu, was born in Hong Kong and smoothly obtained his Hong Kong birth certificate with the help of an intermediary.
However, this birth certificate does not mean that Xiao Yu has become a Hong Kong resident. "Hong Kong birth certificates are not equal to Hong Kong green cards." If Hong Kong-born babies do not meet the conditions for obtaining green cards by the age of 12, they must return to mainland China.
"Even if we could get the Hong Kong green card, we would still let the baby come back," Ms. Li said. "Neither of us are Hong Kong residents, nor do we live in Hong Kong. How can we take care of him?"
As a "mainland Hong Kong child," Xiao Yu must register his Home Return Permit in Hong Kong at the ages of 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, and 18 to continue living on the mainland. For this reason, every few years, Mr. Xiao has to take his son to Hong Kong for registration; otherwise, it would be considered illegal for his son to live with him on the mainland.
It's also hard to live in Hong Kong without sufficient skills
It was still okay a few years ago, but now as his son grows up day by day, next year he will start primary school, Mr. Xiao starts to worry: "My son doesn't have a mainland household registration, so he cannot enjoy the free nine-year compulsory education in the school district." If he doesn't pay the tuition fee, Mr. Xiao will have to send his son to school in Hong Kong: "This is really unrealistic, both of us are on the mainland, how could we leave the child alone in Hong Kong."
Moreover, Mr. Xiao's contact with Hong Kong is increasing, and he understands Hong Kong more and more. The high-welfare Hong Kong in his eyes is no longer as good as before: "The life rhythm in Hong Kong is fast, the cost of living is high, if the child cannot become a professional talent, living in Hong Kong may not be as good as expected."