High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed us for the first time to resolve the compact SMC ionized “ blob ” N 88A ( diameter \sim 3 ^ { \prime \prime } .5 or 1 pc ) .
This very young H ii region , which is hatching from its natal molecular cloud , is heavily affected by absorbing dust associated with the cloud .
The interstellar reddening towards N 88A is on average A _ { V } \sim 1.5 mag and strikingly rises to more than 3.5 mag in a narrow dust band crossing the core of the H ii region .
Such a high extinction is unprecedented for an H ii region in the metal-poor SMC .
We present the photometry of some 70 stars lying towards the OB association at the center of which lies N 88A .
The exciting star ( s ) of N 88A is not detected , due to the heavy extinction .
The chronology of star formation is discussed for the whole region .