SCMP Tuesday, June 27, 2000

Abortion requests rising, says advice service
RIKA CHAN

The number of young unmarried women seeking abortions or emergency contraception has risen sharply in the past five years, Hong Kong Family Planning Association figures show.

The number of unmarried women under 26 seeking the services from the association's three centres increased from 3,907 in 1995 to 6,298 last year. About 35 per cent sought help for termination of pregnancy and the rest sought advice on emergency contraception.

Police records show infanticide cases are uncommon. There was only one case last year and there were none reported to the end of May this year.

"Demand for [the services] from young people is becoming greater," an association spokeswoman said.

But it was hard to determine whether this was due to a lack of sex education or the successful promotion of the association.