Hong Kong gives out HK$35 million in baby bonuses, but experts say raising birth rate requires policy rethink on marriage, IVF
- Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk says authorities have already approved over 16,000 applications for HK$20,000 handouts since policy rolled out last October
- But some experts call for policy shake-up that reflects changing attitudes toward marriage, while others urge increased access to IVF treatments
Hong Kong authorities have distributed more than HK$35 million (US$4.5 million) in baby bonuses since last October, but experts have said boosting the birth rate requires policies that reflect changing attitudes toward marriage and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments.
The government as of Thursday had approved over 16,000 applications for the HK$20,000 handout since the policy rolled out, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said.
Speaking at a University of Hong Kong-hosted panel on the low birth rate, Cheuk also said more than 15,300 of the successful applicants had already received the sum.
“Despite the government’s budget deficit, we rolled out the baby bonus, which is a major financial commitment,” he said.
“This is an important breakthrough and fully demonstrates the government prioritising solving the problems related to the low birth rate, and the urgency of the matter.”
The city first recorded a negative natural population growth in 2020, with its total fertility rate dropping to 701 live births per 1,000 women in 2022.
