Opinion | In order to survive, there must be new births

By Dr. Kevin Lau

According to data released by the Census and Statistics Department, the number of births per thousand people in Hong Kong in 2022 was 32.5, a decrease compared to 37.0 in 2021. Hong Kong's birth rate is already the lowest in the world. Looking at the data from last year, each woman in Hong Kong gave birth to only 0.8 babies, lower than countries like South Korea and Singapore. If this continues, not only will Hong Kong's productivity and competitiveness be affected, but even the basic vitality and dynamism of the city will be lost. In other words, it has become a matter of survival.

The government has also recognized the problem. In last year's Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that starting from October 25, each newborn baby would receive HKD 20,000 for eligible parents, as part of a three-year plan to encourage childbirth and raise the birth rate. The government has recently applied to the Legislative Council Finance Committee for an additional allocation of nearly HKD 2.3 billion for the purpose of providing baby incentives. Although this approach is heading in the right direction, it is somewhat addressing the symptoms rather than the root causes.

While providing cash incentives is good, childbirth is a major life event and prospective parents have many considerations. From another perspective, the overall environment must make prospective parents want to have children. They need to have confidence in their decision to become parents before deciding to have children. When they have a clear understanding of their social and financial sustainability, they will make the decision to have children.

As an example, the working hours can be a significant factor to consider in the social environment. Many young people say they are in a "struggle period" where work is busy and they have no time to have children. From my point of view, that can indeed be a valid reason in many cases. If young people are required to work more than eight hours a day, how can they find time for "dating, marriage, and having children"? It is crucial not to let prospective parents work overtime for extended periods.

In a TV drama, I saw a scene where a young female employee on probation took off her wedding ring before entering the office. When her friend asked, she replied that she was worried her supervisor would think that her marital status meant she would have children, which would harm her career. So, if an expectant mother has to choose between childbirth and her career, how can she have the desire to have children? Therefore, promoting work-life balance is essential. Nordic countries are examples in this regard, as they have demonstrated great flexibility in work arrangements and holiday durations. Perhaps due to this flexibility, Nordic countries maintained stable birth rates during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and even saw a slight increase.

In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to work patterns. Now, the work culture is no longer bound by time and location for many people. Therefore, the combination of having children and work may also change. With more people working from home, there is less time spent commuting and more time to spend with family. This is favorable for having children.

In terms of financial sustainability, in addition to cash incentives, initiatives like the recently announced Housing Authority's "Priority Scheme for Families with Newborns" can be considered as financial support. As it involves the redistribution of social resources, it can be seen as a fiscal support. Hong Kong faces a severe housing problem, and for families with newborns, reducing the waiting time for public housing by one year when applying for it is certainly a positive step.

The author is a specialist in radiology with a Master of Public Health from the University of Hong Kong, and an adviser of Our Hong Kong Foundation.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.