Population

One-child policy needs big changes, and soon

3 Feb 2013

Beijing's top family planning official recently dismissed speculation that the one-child policy will be scrapped this year. Wang Xia, minister of the National Population and Family Planning...

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Hole in Hong Kong's population figures revealed

1 Feb 2013

Pressure over Hong Kong's population policies increased yesterday after the government admitted it had no idea how many foreigners and mainlanders lived in the city.

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Singapore population push puts spotlight on Hong Kong

30 Jan 2013

The Lion City unveiled ambitious plans yesterday to open its doors to hundreds of thousands of expatriate workers. It was inspired by concerns about the falling birth rate and ageing population,...

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About time China grew out of the one-child policy

21 Jan 2013

Mainland officials in charge of statistics are not known for flagging areas of concern when they meet the press at regular briefings and present the latest economic data. Instead, they always try...

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Hong Kong fails in attempt to halt 20-year slide in birth rate

16 Jan 2013

Researchers about to launch Hong Kong's largest demographic survey say attempts to halt the 20-year decline in the city's birth rate have proved ineffective. And they suggested alternative...

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Opinion

Alex Lo

Church developers remain unbowed by government rules

Alice Wu

John Tsang's confused middle-class claim

Jake Van Der Kamp

An age-old problem and the sums that just don't add up

Population minister Wang Xia says one-child policy here to stay

Measures to keep the national birth rate low are going to be around "for a long time", according to the top family planning official. She dismissed speculation the one-child policy would be...

Book review: China's Urban Billion, by Tom Miller

This is a lively and readable book about one of the biggest challenges for the mainland's rulers over the next 20 years: how to build well-planned and affordable cities for the one billion people...

Half of 170,000 babies of mainland mothers 'may return to live in Hong Kong'

As many as half of the 170,000 babies born in Hong Kong to mainland parents may aspire to live in the city, the government says.

That was the estimate given to the Long-Term Housing...

Briefs, January 2, 2013

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday told his special envoy to Seoul to work towards improving ties with South Korea, describing it as Tokyo's most important neighbour. Abe plans to...

MIGRATION

Number of quality migrant applicants rises 10pc in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has seen an increase of nearly 10 per cent in the number of well-qualified people who want to live here, says the Immigration Department. Most of those approved were from the mainland....

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MIDDLE EAST

Genetic testing and IVF boost population of Israel's Samaritans

When Ben Altif got engaged to his first cousin Mazal, there was no problem winning the blessing of their families or the Samaritan high priest, who leads their ancient Israelite sect. Marriage...