The Hong Kong government has allocated approximately HK$520 million through its “baby bonus” scheme, providing HK$20,000 to families with newborns. This initiative aims to address the city’s declining birth rate. From October of last year to the end of September, the government received 26,948 applications, with over 95 percent of applicants already receiving funds. These statistics were shared in a Legislative Council document released on Tuesday.
The scheme, known as the Newborn Baby Bonus, was introduced in Chief Executive John Lee’s Policy Address last year. It offers a one-time payment of HK$20,000 to families where at least one parent is a Hong Kong permanent resident, and babies are born between October 2022 and October 2026.
This financial support is part of broader measures announced last year to encourage higher birth rates. In addition to the baby bonus, Lee revealed that the Housing Authority will prioritize families with children for subsidized flats. Families with newborns waiting for public housing will also see their wait times reduced by one year.
Like many developed regions, Hong Kong faces a declining fertility rate. In 2023, there were 751 births for every 1,000 females, down from 1,125 a decade earlier.
Despite these efforts, some residents feel the baby bonus is insufficient to motivate couples to have children. Critics highlight the lack of childcare options and the high costs associated with raising a child in Hong Kong.
A recent survey by the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong indicated that only about half of young adults in the city plan to have children, marking a record low.
In this year’s Policy Address, Lee also announced that civil servants with children under three years old will receive childcare leave. Starting next April, these employees will be granted three days of childcare leave annually as part of the government’s commitment to support families.
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