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The future for Hong Kong: living childless in ever smaller homes
I’m glad your editorial of April 24, “City cannot afford to carry on living in even smaller homes”, linked small flats and natural population growth, which will soon become negative.
As you put it, this is “no way forward for an ageing society that needs to attract – and hold – talent and encourage people to have children”.
How can an ageing city contribute to the rejuvenation or revitalisation of the nation? Maybe officials in South Korea or Japan should also ask that question.
Here in Hong Kong, maybe the Census and Statistics Department could survey young couples and ask them: How many square feet do the two of you need? To raise one child? Two children? How many square feet can you afford?
As a long-term resident of Hong Kong, it is painful for me to watch Asia’s world city slowly becoming Asia’s geriatric city. The worst is yet to come.
Michael J. Sloboda, Tsim Sha Tsui
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