Hong Kong Express apologises for ‘humiliating’ pregnancy test
Hong Kong Express has responded publically with an apology after forcing a passenger to take a pregnancy test,
Midori Nishida, aged 25, was flying with Hong Kong Express in November to Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, when she was pulled aside and asked to take the test.
She had already filled out a pre-flight questionnaire saying she was not pregnant.
Ms Nishida said it was ‘very humiliating and frustrating’ and the airline did not follow up with her after she lodged a complaint.
"We would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone who has been affected by this," Hong Kong Express Airways said.
"We took actions on flights to Saipan from February 2019 to help ensure US immigration laws were not being undermined.
"We have immediately suspended the practice while we review it," the airline added.
The US territory has been trying to combat ‘birth tourism’ as babies born on US soil automatically qualify for citizenship.
A loophole used mostly by Chinese women, this has also been a major issue on the US mainland.
However Saipan is the only US jurisdiction where a visa is not required making it a popular option to give birth.
The government says more tourists than residents gave birth in the Northern Mariana Islands in 2018.
Last year a Chinese woman was convicted in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud US immigration services. She organised travel and visa applications for dozens of Chinese woman to come to the US just to give birth, and coached them what to say to immigration officials on entry.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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