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Opinion | Baby cash and priority housing? Hong Kong needs a family-friendly society
- To address falling fertility, the government must go beyond a one-off ‘baby bonus’ and easier access to subsidised housing
- The goal should be to increase affordable housing for everyone, invest in a quality education system and create a family-friendly society
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Hong Kong’s fertility rate has dropped to not just a record low for the city but also the lowest globally – with no sign of a rebound. This is raising concerns about its ageing population and the wider demographic challenges in the future.
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To tackle this, the government is putting forth measures including a HK$20,000 (US$2,555) cash bonus for newborns and prioritised subsidised housing for couples with a newborn. This is a good start as the government is showing some commitment and leadership in addressing Hong Kong’s fertility challenge.
But a deeper exploration of the factors driving low fertility is essential, as is an effort to understand the potential impact of these measures and their effectiveness. By doing so, we can justify the need for these policy interventions and pave the way for a more informed and effective approach.
High living costs, limited housing space and the demanding nature of work are often cited as factors contributing to Hong Kong’s low fertility rate. Also playing a significant role is the prevalence of individualism, cultural shifts, the diminishing influence of the two-child norm and the growing popularity of a child-free lifestyle.
Given that Hongkongers who do want children focus more on the quality of their offspring than the quantity, and place greater value on personal freedom, it is naive to hope that a HK$20,000 cash bonus will encourage families to produce enough babies to make up the shortfall. Such incentives may merely provide temporary relief for parents.
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We still need to invest in educational resources, and creating an environment that fosters growth and development can have a more profound and lasting impact. If Hong Kong can ensure that children have access to quality education and opportunities for a brighter future, more people may be inclined to have children.
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