Special delivery: Hospital Authority Director (Cluster Services) Dr Cheung Wai-lun and Chief Manager (Cluster Performance) Dr Beatrice Cheng announce plans to expands public hospitals' obstetrics services resources.

The Hospital Authority has announced its plan to train more midwives and expand hospital resources to cater for the expected increased demand for obstetrics services this year.

Speaking to reporters today, Authority Director (Cluster Services) Dr Cheung Wai-lun said two training classes will be held this year, to double the number of trained midwives to 80.

Also, the authority has plans to expand the obstetrics capacity of the United Christian Hospital in April, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in July. These moves are expected to add 2,000 more units for delivering babies.

On the mandatory booking system for childbirth services announced earlier this month, Dr Cheung said public hopsitals have so far received registration from 697 Mainland expectant mothers. He stressed that local women will be given booking priority over non-locals.

Depending on local pregnant women's demand for service and the hospitals resources, the booking quota for Mainland mothers - now capped at 1,800 - will be adjusted periodically, Dr Cheung said.

In February, the authority will upload data about the non-locals service booking on its website.

From February 1, expectant mothers from the Mainland will have to show a valid certificate of obstetrics service from a Hong Kong hospital and valid travel documents whenever they enter Hong Kong and check into a hospital.