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Letters | 3 reasons young Hong Kong couples are reluctant to have children
- Readers discuss the factors deterring Hongkongers from having children, and support for those with terminal illnesses
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I have three young children, and I feel that many factors in Hong Kong are telling young couples not to have kids.
First, there are not enough childcare services. If you are a well-educated woman with bright career prospects, you’ve probably made up your mind not to get married or have a baby.
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If women give birth, they either have to take care of the babies themselves, or leave them in the full-time care of grandparents, or domestic helpers, who might be reluctant to take care of children.
If these mothers want to take care of the children on their own, they have to give up their career and leave it to the fathers to earn a living.
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If you require the services of a full-day childcare centre, your child has to be at least two years old, or you may face a long wait to qualify for a place under subsidised programmes.
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