Hong Kong’s birth rate is low because raising a child in extreme competition is exhausting

Incentives to encourage couples to have children don’t work unless they substantially reduce the costs – and stress – of raising a child
But how could they, when our competitive modern society continually fosters a fear of falling behind?

Yvette To

Published: 8:15am, 22 Aug 2023

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With Hong Kong experiencing a record low fertility rate of 0.9 births per woman, legislators and academics have offered different recommendations to tackle the challenges.

Typical solutions include different forms of perks, such as tax cuts, direct subsidies, and cash payouts. But unless these incentives are substantial enough to significantly reduce the costs – and stress – associated with having a child, they are not going to bring more babies.

An average of 2.1 children per woman is required to maintain a stable population. But having one child is already challenging enough, not to mention two. As a parent, I share the frustrations of many Hong Kong families struggling with the mental and financial stress of bringing up children in the city.

One key factor discouraging couples of child-bearing age from having (more) children is the cost of doing so. Some families are fortunate to have domestic helpers and grandparents assisting with childcare, thus allowing parents to work full-time.

However, other expenses – for after-school tuition, interest classes, excursions and much more – are exorbitant. And why are they necessary? Because, to stay competitive in our society, a child must not only ace their exams but also be equipped with a wide range of what Hong Kong mums sarcastically call “supernatural skills”.

With their days packed with school, training of one kind or another and other activities, many of our schoolchildren are busy for more hours than adults. Parents rushing home after work to guide their children through homework has become a norm. Holidays are worse – they mean more homework, and preparation for assessments at the start of the following term.

Students take the Diploma of Secondary Education English test on April 21. To stay competitive in our society, a child must not only ace their exams but also be equipped with a wide range of skills. Photo: Dickson Lee

While talking to some Hong Kong parents who have moved overseas recently, I discovered a joke shared among them: when their children are naughty, they are warned they could be “sent back to Hong Kong schools” as a punishment.

People like to compare cities and education systems, but such comparisons may not always be helpful. The ways in which education is delivered is closely linked to the social and cultural traits of a place and people, sometimes making it unrealistic to replicate or transplant a particular preferred model.

For example, British schools retain sports sessions and mandate students’ participation in them during examination periods. Term breaks are real holidays with few or no assignments, allowing students to explore other things and recharge themselves. Such practices would be inconceivable in Hong Kong, given the entrenched exam-oriented culture here.

Even if new technology can improve the teaching and learning experience, it is the anxiety of lagging behind which puts tremendous pressures on adults and children.

For many parents, it is no longer adequate to ensure their children win at the starting line but, more importantly, stay competitive until the finishing line. One strategy is to send children abroad for education at some point.

For certain jobs and companies, employers tend to look for people who have had international exposure. Again, competition never ends. When these graduates return to Hong Kong, they may find themselves competing with those who have been trawled to Hong Kong under the new top talent scheme.

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Spiralling competition adds costs to child-bearing and stress to families. Last year, a survey conducted by a local bank on middle-class families suggested that raising a child in Hong Kong, until he or she completes university education, requires at least HK$6 million.

This is not an exaggeration, considering the costs of overseas education. Given the exorbitant prices of private property in Hong Kong, some parents also want to make provision for paying part or all of the down payment of their children’s first home.

What can be done then? Ironically, the challenges we encounter today are precipitated by the very qualities that have contributed to our success story. Our strong work ethic, diligence and competitive nature have led to long working hours, work-life imbalances and the rising cost of education. These are now threatening the city’s future.

Yet, Hong Kong is not alone; other Asian economies are battling similar crises. Rapid economic development brings prosperity; the accumulated effects are felt decades later.

Government policies and technological innovation, such as importing labour and a wider adoption of automation, may address some immediate choke points. But escalating competition over resources and talent in society will continue to deter young couples from having more children.

Dr Yvette To is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Public and International Affairs of City University of Hong Kong