Hong Kong's birth rate remains low, deterred not just by child-rearing costs but also by its high-pressure education system. The government introduced a baby bonus and increased in vitro fertilisation quotas, yet results have been limited. Experts argue for broader policies to improve the environment.
This South China Morning Post opinion piece highlights that Hong Kong authorities projected a rise to 39,000 births, but the outcome surprised them. The author argues the baby bonus scheme was worth trying for insights, though economic incentives alone fall short. Women's higher education and career focus delay childbearing, prompting the government to boost in vitro fertilisation quotas in public hospitals. However, such policies require time to bear fruit.
Couples consistently cite the financial burden of raising children in the city as the main factor, but it extends to whether Hong Kong provides a suitable environment. The article stresses the high-pressure education system as a key deterrent, including fierce competition in international schools, alongside issues like the suicide problem and public housing strains. Experts such as Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai from the University of Hong Kong are referenced, urging eased education stress to lift birth rates. Education chief Christine Choi Yuk-lin's context appears in keywords.
Overall, the piece recommends education reforms to foster a family-friendly atmosphere, beyond short-term measures.