The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has been encouraging childbirth in recent years, with the latest Policy Address introducing a series of enhanced support measures. HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said on Friday (Sept. 18) that the government respects individual choices on whether to have children and will "do its best" to create a childbirth-friendly environment by addressing people's concerns with targeted measures.
Lee made the remarks during a joint interview with media outlets under the Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group.
Lee noted that governments in many parts of the world are facing the same challenge of declining birth rates, and the HKSAR government is no exception. He believes that the relevant support policies can help promote childbirth, but there is "no guaranteed outcome", as getting married and having children are major personal decisions, while declining birth rates are also driven by various structural factors, including social and cultural changes.
The growing responsibilities and costs of raising children are also factors that discourage some people from having children. "If you love your children and want to take good care of them, you have to make long-term plans, and you will feel the economic burden," Lee said.
He noted that people today place greater emphasis on their children's health and education, while also having to consider whether their living environment is adequate to accommodate a new family member. These considerations can create financial concerns. Therefore, the government understands that creating a childbirth-friendly environment also requires respecting individuals' decisions about whether to have children.
Lee summed up the current attitudes toward childbirth among the public into three broad groups. The first consists of people who have decided not to have children. For this group, the government can only express its support for childbirth through publicity and promotion. The second consists of those who want to have children but are unable to do so for physiological reasons. The government will provide assistance, including through medical services, as far as possible. For those who have no psychological barriers to having children, the government encourages them to actively consider having children.
However, Lee acknowledged that the largest group consists of people who have concerns and have not yet decided whether to have children. For this group, the government hopes to make them feel encouraged and supported.
Lee said that he understands people would most welcome direct financial assistance, but stressed that "we do not make empty promises" and that policy continuity is important. He pointed out that all public funds come from the public, so the government must ensure that the resources allocated generate genuine returns, while maintaining policy continuity is also crucial.
Lee stressed that the government will "do its best" to encourage childbirth. He acknowledged that policies aimed at boosting the birth rate are relatively less effective than policies in other areas, but said the government would continue to move forward, address concerns with targeted measures, and continuously review and adjust its policies based on actual circumstances.
Related News:
Comment