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The Government published in the Gazette today (March 6) the Human Reproductive Technology (Amendment) Bill 2015, which seeks to prohibit advertisements purporting to promote sex selection services through human reproductive technology (RT) procedures, whether or not the services are provided in Hong Kong.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "In recent years, we have observed an increase in local press advertisements and leaflets promoting sex selection services available in other countries. This has also aroused the concern of the medical profession, which requested such promotional activities be stopped and prohibited by law.
"At present, section 15(3) of the Human Reproductive Technology Ordinance (HRTO) (Cap 561) prohibits the use of RT procedures to select the sex of babies except for avoiding the birth of a child suffering from a serious sex-linked genetic disease. However, there are no provisions to prohibit advertisement in this regard. For the overall well-being of society, we consider it necessary to amend the law.
"We intend to prohibit advertising of sex selection services through RT procedures in all media, including the Internet. Subject to availability of evidence, local webpage hosts or operators who knowingly post advertisements purporting to promote sex selection services on a webpage under their management could be held liable."
The amendment bill proposes a new offence for those who knowingly publish or distribute an advertisement purporting to promote sex selection services or cause the advertisement to be published or distributed. The penalty on first conviction is pitched at a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months, while that for a subsequent conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
The amendment bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for scrutiny on March 18, 2015.
Ends/Friday, March 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:30
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