Babies bring questions in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - photos from triplets in a billionaire family born, who splashed on the front pages of local newspapers in October for a great story made.

Their proud grandfather, Lee Shau Kee, 82-year-old of Chairman of property developers Henderson Land Development Ltd. and one of the richest men in Asia, held the three baby young blue wrapped. Next to him as the father, Peter Lee, Bachelor Vice Chairman and heir to the throne of the Henderson Empire.

There was only one thing missing: your mother.

Henderson Land Development Ltd proud grandfather Lee Shau Kee, 82-year-old of Chairman of property developers Henderson Land Development Ltd. and one of the richest men in Asia with an armful of triplets.

The question their identity since debate and confusion about the surrogacy solved legality in Hong Kong. Many couples in Hong Kong go to find in the USA and numbers a woman her children to wear. But a decade-old Hong Kong keeps no matter where you place law commercial surrogacy - in which the surrogate is paid - a crime.

Back in October, the Lee family announced the arrival of triplets with much fanfare: a press release, photos, a donation to a local hospital and bonuses of HK$ 10,000, or about $1,300, for each Henderson land's around 1,300 employees.

The fact that the newborn was triplets particularly favourable: three is a lucky number in Cantonese and sounds like the word "Birth."

But 47-year-old Peter Lee's stag furthermore be immediately media attention maternal who focused on.

Several local newspapers reported that the triplets to a paid surrogate mother in California were born. As currently asked a Henderson representative said the claim: "the newspapers have it all, said.

Henderson representatives would not comment, further on the matter and Peter Lee's Office respond to questions.

The story could have stayed a little gossip if not for the human reproductive technology regulation, pass it in the year 2000, which, among other things prohibits commercial surrogacy.

At a regular meeting of Hong Kong's legislative Dec. 1, legislators Cyd HO called into question whether the authorities in a case "male Hong Kong permanent resident" have looked that "before recently published a press release on the triplets born to him" - Although you identify by name the inhabitants.

"There is the news that someone may violate the law in Hong Kong without getting caught," you said the case in a later interview.

"Surrogate motherhood with commercial interest is the same as trafficking in organs," woman said "it's still a trade and women poverty may be compelled in this transaction." Ho,

She declined, indicating whether the Peter Lee case in its comments in the legislature referred to you. "I will not against an individual," she said.

The Lee triplets

It turns out, confirm a government agency of the Council of human reproductive technology called, suspected violation of law surrogate motherhood, police reported to police. The first case law's 10 years of existence is said the Council. The Council would not say who the case involved.

Pending police investigation, the case is an official said, noted, that would make law even in the payment outside of Hong Kong cover cases is carried out.

Hong Kong is not only to prohibit commercial surrogacy. Also prohibit Australia and the Netherlands. Laws in the United States are determined by States surrogate motherhood. In New York for example, it is illegal.

Despite the law Hong Kong's interest is in providing surrogacy of clients for a number of agencies in the U.S. California where one 1993 confirmed the legality of a commercial replacement agreement California Supreme Court decision, is a popular destination.

The Hong Kong surrogate motherhood Center, located in Laguna Niguel, California, offers Hong Kong parents, who are looking for replacement mothers in the United States

"Knock on wood, we have no legal problems" Hilary Neiman, an attorney for the Center, says founded six years ago.

She says about 40% of customers are single men to pay anywhere from $20,000 to $35,000 for a surrogate mother depending on "from their experience."

Hong Kong ban commercial surrogacy, combined with its affluent, well-traveled people make it a considerable market for U.S. agencies.

For international parents, the entire process in the U.S.-from sperm donation of the birth takes place coordinators according to surrogate motherhood. Lawyers are called for both parties, contracts are drawn up and requirements (for example, only organic food to eat the mother) are arranged. Parents will pay all medical bills.

Is a source, Michelle Davis, a program coordinator at the surrogacy agency headquartered in Irvine, California, says that one-third of their international customers are from Hong Kong.

Karen Roeb, a clinical administrator at fertility wonders, a Beverly Hills, California-based agency, says 65% of the business internationally, with many customers from Asia, including Hong Kong is.

No one says Mrs Roeb their Hong Kong customers have ever had legal difficulty. "I do not believe that what we do as illegal,", she says.

"We see more and more recent cases of Hong Kong," says Lori Meyer, a fertility lawyer based in Los Angeles. Mrs Meyer said she was not aware that the Hong Kong ban applies to international transactions.

The law is formulated in unusually universal conditions: "no person whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, makes or any payment for the commencement or participate in any negotiations with a view to the production of a surrogacy arrangement."

Even some Hong Kong legal experts are confused by the law.

"I the absurdity of this not notice until I read the regulation according to the news", says Ronny Tong, a barrister and a member of the Hong Kong, as regards the prohibition of the extraterritorial reach. I think it's crazy, it is inconceivable, he laughs.

"If other people around the world about this knew we will become the international mockery."

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