High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed us for the first time to resolve the compact SMC ionized ``blob'' N88A (diameter ~3.5arcsec or 1pc). This very young HII, region, which is hatching from its natal molecular cloud, is heavily affected by absorbing dust associated with the cloud. The interstellar reddening towards N88A is on average A_v_~1.5mag and strikingly rises to more than 3.5mag in a narrow dust band crossing the core of the HII region. Such a high extinction is unprecedented for an HII 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 N88A. The exciting star(s) of N88A is not detected, due to the heavy extinction. The chronology of star formation is discussed for the whole region.
