A new survey has found that a majority of Hong Kong women of childbearing age, who do not have any offspring, remain reluctant to have children, citing financial pressures, housing constraints and career priorities as key factors for their hesitation.

The poll, conducted online in February by the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions, surveyed 550 childless women aged between 18 and 45.

Around 60 percent of the respondents said they had no intention of having children while others would only consider having, at most, one or two.

Financial considerations and housing problems topped the list of obstacles, followed by age‑related and work‑related concerns, the survey found.

Among women aged 36 to 45 who did not plan to have children, around one third cited physiological factors while age was a decisive consideration in the refusal by the rest.

Career development featured frequently as a reason to delay or forego having children among women earning more than HK$50,000 a month.

Childcare subsidies topped the list of incentives for most of the respondents at over 90 percent, and that was followed by enhanced tax relief and longer paid childcare leave.

Federation chairman Lam Chun-sing said there was an increasing need for support measures as having two or more babies would exact a financial burden on both the grassroots and the middle class.

"We hope that the government can provide long-term support for them because promoting childbirth is a long-term, not just a short-term, policy or part of one or two promotional efforts," he said.

The federation urged the government to strengthen fertility-support measures through co-operatve efforts with mainland medical institutions or funding for egg-freezing.

It also called for stronger childcare and after-school support, including more nursery places, a higher subsidy for parents and extending the newborn baby bonus scheme, which is available up until October.


Edited by Tony Sabine