Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's plea for women to go forth and procreate is falling on deaf ears, according to a survey that found about 80 per cent of women would be happy with two children or fewer.
Although in February Mr Tsang urged Hong Kong couples to have three children to 'help alleviate the ageing population', 64.2 per cent of women interviewed in the street poll said two was the ideal number.
The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong poll of 792 women, 592 of whom were mothers aged 16 or older, found only 13 per cent would like to have three children, with 12.8 per cent saying they wanted one. A further 4.7 per cent said they would prefer not to have any children, while 5.2 per cent wanted four or more.
Most mothers said having time was the most important criteria when it came to raising children. More than half of the mothers said they gave up their jobs for their children. But 4.3 per cent of the women said they would give up having children for their careers.
Modern mothers have moved away from the traditional concept of wanting children to support them when they grow old.
More than 30 per cent said their biggest wish for their children was good health. Almost 20 per cent hoped their children would follow the Chinese tradition of filial piety, while about 18 per cent hoped children would be able to support themselves when they grow up.
