“Despite the government’s budget deficit, we rolled out the baby bonus, which is a major financial commitment,” he stated.
“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.”
Town first recorded a destructive herbal society expansion in 2020, with its general fertility charge shedding to 701 are living births in line with 1,000 girls in 2022.
As of a part of his untouched coverage cope with, Well-known Govt John Lee Ka-chiu introduced government would do business in a one-off HK$20,000 “newborn baby bonus” for each and every little one born to an enduring resident from October 25 of closing past.
The coverage is predicted to closing for 3 years.
Alternative population pleasant projects unveiled closing October incorporated giving families with newborns precedence to buy their government-subsidised residences, with government expanding the collection of houses put aside for them through 10 in line with cent.
Ready instances amongst such households for population condo residences have been additionally lowered through one past, efficient from April of this past, underneath the coverage push.
Cheuk on Friday described the bonus as a considerate reward, or “red packet”, from the federal government to {couples} with newborns.
“We never expected that giving out the bonus would directly make more people want to have kids, but the policy has successfully raised awareness and generated discussions about the issue,” he stated.
Audio system on the panel additionally incorporated Paul Yip Siu-fai, chair trainer of society condition on the college, who mentioned a 2022 survey from the Society Making plans Affiliation on younger folk’s attitudes in opposition to marriage.
The instructional famous the learn about discovered extra girls most well-liked to marry next of their lives and be child-free.
The manage causes amongst girls for excess single incorporated the “joy of singlehood”, monetary self government and an incapability to discover a appropriate spouse.
“This shows women want personal freedom and don’t want to be trapped by marriage, and that women no longer need to get married to enjoy financial stability,” Yip stated.
In the case of manage deterrents to having kids, essentially the most prevalent causes amongst girls have been a dearth of childcare aid and their monetary status.
The instructional stated policymakers must develop a complete society technique that addressed such stumbling blocks, to assistance develop a extra child-rearing-friendly order that inspired potential oldsters.
Ernest Ng Hung-yu, a scientific trainer of gynaecology on the college’s clinical school, stated the federal government must additionally form IVF remedies extra available underneath the population healthcare machine and paintings on lowering ready instances for procedures.
The median life of feminine sufferers on the town’s fertility clinics used to be 35 years impaired, including that call for used to be expanding however future used to be working out for sufferers.
“Only three public hospitals offer IVF services and the waiting time can take up to 20 to 80 weeks to see a specialist, almost two years, similar to other outpatient services at the Hospital Authority,” he stated.
“As a female patient ages, the chances of pregnancy decrease. They cannot wait for so long.”
Ng known as for extra promotion efforts on social media to boost consciousness concerning the other fertility remedies, in addition to a simplified triage and referral procedure for IVF choices.