Hong Kong’s declining births and rapidly ageing population are pressing the government toward broader livelihood measures ahead of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu‘s policy address and the city’s first five-year plan, both set for release on September 16.
The city recorded 29,700 births between mid-2025 and mid-2026, the first time it has fallen below 30,000 in its midyear population update since official records began in 1962. Births continued to shrink despite a HK$20,000 ($2,565) baby bonus, tax relief and public housing perks.
The labour force stood at 3.79 million people between May and July this year, down from 3.81 million recorded for 2025. The combination of falling births and an ageing society produces a high age dependency ratio, in which fewer working-age residents support a larger population of the elderly and the very young.
The financial pressures behind the trend are felt by residents like Fong, a 28-year-old construction worker who earns about HK$10,000 ($1,275) a month and lives in a 100 sq ft subdivided flat in Prince Edward, paying roughly HK$3,000 a month. He and his wife want a child but say the cost is beyond their means for now.
Experts argue that increasing financial rewards alone is unlikely to lift birth rates. Some pointed to Singapore’s recent pro-family push, whose centrepiece provides almost S$70,000 ($55,255) in direct support for each Singaporean child until age 17.
“First, we cannot mechanically replicate the amount and second, we need to assess how many families could be incentivised and determine the threshold – how much is needed – for them to have children,” said Eric Fong Wai-ching, chair professor in sociology at the University of Hong Kong. He noted financial incentives tend to work mainly for the working class, while better-off households weigh factors beyond money.
Observers say the government should go beyond welfare provisions toward a holistic strategy covering job creation and new industries as older vocations are absorbed by emerging technology. Au Yeung Tat-chor, an associate professor at Lingnan University, called for measures to bring residents previously marginalised or excluded from the workforce back into the labour market.
Nelson Chow Wing-sun, an emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the city should prioritise attracting mainland residents through family reunion, imported labour, study and work.
The measures affecting families, older residents and workers will be detailed when Lee delivers his policy address on September 16.