1.   Hundreds of mainland Chinese women here live in a dozen rows of drab, concrete high-rises, kept there as mistresses or common-law wives of Hong Kong men.

2.   The man, Choi Kai-pang, had a wife in Hong Kong but lived with a mainland woman in the border city of Shenzhen.

3.   But it would be difficult for mainland women to apply for Philippine passports because of rigid requirements.

4.   Director of Society for Community Organisation Ho Hei-wah said mainland women were believed to be buying passports from both the Philippines and Thailand.

5.   He said practically the measure would not be effective since mainland women wishing to give birth in Hong Kong could sneak across illegally.

6.   Hong Kong argued that if Chong got to stay, numerous mainland women would try to give birth in Hong Kong.

7.   MAINLAND women allegedly have been buying Philippine passports to speed up reunions with husbands in Hong Kong.

8.   Many of the people who would qualify for residency in Hong Kong under the court ruling are the illegitimate children of Hong Kong men and mainland women.

9.   Mainland women also had bought passports from Tonga for about the same price, he said.

10.   Many mainland women see men in Hong Kong as a ticket to a better life.