Top News

The payments were made under a government scheme launched in October 2023, which gives eligible parents a one-off HK$20,000 bonus for each newborn. To qualify, the child must be born in Hong Kong and at least one parent must be a permanent resident when applying.

As of Feb. 28, 66,259 babies had received the bonus. Treasury records show payments were made twice to about 1,820 bank accounts and three times to around 20 accounts, meaning those families received HK$40,000 and HK$60,000 respectively.

But less than 60% of the HK$2.28 billion budgeted for the three-year scheme had been paid out as of February, with the program due to end in October.

The policy was introduced after births fell to a then-record low of 32,500 in 2022. Officials had expected it to help lift annual births by 20% to about 39,000, but births dropped further to 31,100 in 2025, a new record low.

Experts say financial concerns, job insecurity and pressure from Hong Kong’s competitive education system continue to discourage young people from having children.

At a recent seminar on ageing, migration and fertility, Christa Cheung Shuk-fung, supervisor of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, said younger generations increasingly associate parenthood with pressure rather than fulfilment. “They are not just asking, ‘Can I afford a child?’ They are asking, ‘Will the world my child enters be safe and fair, and is it worth the sacrifice?’” she said.

A survey by her group found only 38% of residents aged 13 to 29 were interested in having children, while 31% said they did not want any.