Hong Kong is considering issuing restricted immigration regulations to stem the frenzied flow of mainland women who give birth there, the Guangzhou Daily reported Wednesday.

Related readings:  China mulls banning BPA in baby bottles  Living like an oversized baby  Baby boom fuels gold rush  Mainland buyers snap up baby milk powder

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said on Wednesday that the decision was made after the number of newborns to mainland moms reached 40,000 - close to half of all the 88,000 births in HK last year. The massive surge in mainland moms heading to Hong Kong is mainly because babies born there will get a permanent HK residency regardless of their parents' nationality, according to The Basic Law of Hong Kong.

But the situation is putting a strain on medical facilities and staff in the HK health-service system.

"The obstetric services HKSAR's health-care system can provide a limited service and the situation has become worse during the last year," York Chow Yat-ngok said, adding that senior doctors have left public hospitals for higher pay in the private sector.

A detailed plan and discussion will need to be held with HK private and public health professionals, "yet for sure we should give HK local moms top priority to get the baby-delivery service" Chow added,