The number of single parents has soared over the past decade, and many may be forced to give up their jobs and go on the dole unless the government increases its social support, critics warn.
They say welfare has become a more attractive option due to the downward spiral of salaries in low-paid sectors and the pressure of single parenthood.
The warning came after the Census and Statistics Department revealed a 70 per cent surge in the number of single parents over a 10-year period - from 34,538 in 1991 to 58,460 in 2001. In the same period, the number of people aged 15 or over in Hong Kong only rose 28 per cent.
The number of children who come from single parent families also soared by 55 per cent, from 52,826 to 81,644.
The department attributed the rise in single parents to a sharp increase in divorce cases.
Only 7.2 per cent have tertiary education.
Cecilia Chan Lai-wan, a social work and administration professor from the University of Hong Kong, called on the government to provide re-education and more job training for single parents. 'We are aware many single parents are on a lower education level. It would be important to retrain and re-educate them to help them find jobs and be self-sustainable,' Professor Chan said.
