At the stroke of midnight, Hong Kong greeted its first baby boy at CUHK Medical Centre -- the first of six newborns to arrive in the city during the New Year’s first hour.
Weighing approximately 3.2 kilograms, the newborn is not only the first child for his parents but also the hospital's inaugural New Year's baby.
For the mother, the pain of labor melted away the moment she held her son in her arms, describing the experience as the “greatest achievement in life.”
With pride, she stated, “He is so clever—he did this all by himself,” highlighting the special timing of his birth.
Her husband, surnamed Ho, shared the anticipation of their son’s arrival as the boy originally due on January 3 but arriving two days early.
Ho recounted the emotional journey of the day, as his wife was admitted to the hospital with broken waters and switched from a cesarean delivery to a natural delivery on the doctor’s advice.
After witnessing his wife endure over 10 hours of labor, Ho expressed deep gratitude to his wife and said he hopes his son will grow up to be "a loving, kind, and brave person who brings positivity to those around him."
Public hospitals also welcomed a total of five newborns within the first hour of the New Year. This included a baby girl born at United Christian Hospital at 12.02 am, weighing approximately 3 kilograms.
At Kwong Wah Hospital, another boy (2.89 kg) and girl (3.06 kg) arrived at 12.06 am and 12.30 am, respectively.
Meanwhile, a baby girl weighing 3.725 kilograms was delivered at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital at 12.08 am, and another baby boy weighing 3.59 kilograms was born at Tuen Mun Hospital at 12.15 am.
