Hong Kong may bar mainland mothers from giving birth in public hospitals next year to battle the over-crowding in local maternity wards, the city's health chief said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Health Chief York Chow said that all public hospital obstetric services are expected to be reserved for local pregnant mothers in 2013.

The comments came after the leader-elect, Leung Chun-ying, said that private hospitals should bar mainland mothers and that their newborns will no longer be able to claim permanent residence in the city.

"If they apply now and prepare to come to Hong Kong next year to deliver their babies, in all likelihood, their babies will not have permanent residency status in Hong Kong because once I assume office, I will surely take action on this," Leung said on Tuesday.

Leung did not say if the city would pass laws or use other methods to stop the children of mainland parents from gaining permanent residency in Hong Kong.

Chow said that he was in touch with Leung and respected his view of suspending the quota system, but a final decision had yet to be made.

Private hospitals that increasingly rely on maternity services said a sudden policy change would have a major impact.

(China.org.cn April 19, 2012)

路透社报道，香港卫生局长周二表示，该市明年或禁止大陆孕妇在公共医院生产，以缓解当地产房待产者过多的状况。

香港卫生局局长周一岳说，2013年，所有公共医院的产科服务可能会预留给本地孕妇。

此前，候任特首梁振英表示，私立医院应不再接受大陆孕妇，而她们的婴儿将不再能获得该市的永久居住权。

梁振英周二说：“如果她们现在报名准备明年来香港产子，很可能届时她们所生的婴儿会没有永久居民身份，我一上任肯定会做这个工作。”

梁振英没有说该市是否会立法或用其它办法来禁止大陆父母的子女获得香港永久居住权。

周一岳说，他和梁振英保持联系，尊重他取消配额体制的意见，但最终决定还没达成。

私立医院表示，政策突变会产生很大的影响，因为它们越来越依靠接产服务来生存。