15th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) In response to concerns about Hong Kong’s declining birth rate and the challenges posed by an ageing population, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, presented a comprehensive set of measures aimed at promoting population growth during a Legislative Council session today. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure the city’s long-term competitiveness, with the Chief Executive previously stating that a population of 10 million is necessary for Hong Kong to remain viable.
The government is implementing a multi-faceted approach that includes encouraging childbirth, enhancing local workforce participation, and attracting overseas talent. This comes as Hong Kong’s current population stands at approximately 7.5 million. The government has projected a workforce shortage of 180,000 within the next five years, indicating the pressing need for an influx of talent.
Since the introduction of various talent admission schemes in late 2022, over 430,000 applications have been received, with more than 270,000 approved. These measures have successfully brought over 180,000 new talents to the region, surpassing the initial target of 105,000 by 2025. Additionally, the schemes have facilitated the arrival of approximately 170,000 dependants, including nearly 100,000 children under 18.
To address the low birth rate, the government has introduced several family-friendly policies, including a Newborn Baby Bonus of HK$20,000 per child, which has seen 34,836 applications approved since its launch. Furthermore, housing policies have been adjusted to provide priority for families with newborns in both the Home Ownership Scheme and public rental housing allocations.
The government is also acutely aware of the financial implications of an ageing population, with projections indicating that the elderly dependency ratio will worsen significantly over the coming decades. In response, it is set to increase spending on elderly services and healthcare, with an estimated recurrent expenditure of HK$16 billion for 2024-25.
While the Human Resources Planning Commission has been examining demographic challenges since its establishment, the government maintains that transparency must be balanced with the need for confidentiality in discussions. Regular press releases summarising meetings will continue to be issued, although detailed minutes will not be made public to protect the integrity of deliberations.
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