Hong Kong unveils new incentives to curb plunging birth rate

Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk used a Legislative Council panel to outline eleven new initiatives designed to manage Hong Kong's shrinking birthrate. Central to the package is an increase in the baby bonus to HK$30,000 for couples who have a second child or beyond, up from HK$20,000. Lawmakers such as Dominic Lee and Rock Chen pressed the government on performance metrics, highlighting a fertility rate of 0.73 births per woman in 2025.

Cheuk argued that without these measures the decline would be steeper and pointed to recent improvements in economic momentum as a supportive factor. He said the administration will continue to foster a climate that encourages child-bearing, linking it to broader job-creation and industry growth plans.