https://www.scmp.com/rss/515689/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Officials have begun a detailed review of the government’s HK$20,000 (US$2,600) baby bonus scheme six months before the end of its three-year term, and for good reason. With its low take-up rate, the scheme has failed to make the hoped-for impact on a falling birth rate. At the end of February, more than 40 per cent of the HK$2.8 billion set aside to encourage couples to have babies remained unspent, according to the Labour and Welfare Bureau. This suggests financial incentives alone cannot... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351108/hong-kong-baby-bonus-scheme-needs-rethink-focus-systemic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351108/hong-kong-baby-bonus-scheme-needs-rethink-focus-systemic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Twenty Hong Kong couples have each received baby bonuses totalling HK$60,000 (US$7,700) for having three children in about 2½ years. Yet less than 60 per cent of the HK$2.28 billion earmarked for the three-year government scheme has been disbursed as of February, with just over six months to go before it ends in October. Government figures showed the city’s registered birth rate in the first two months of this year dropped by 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. A youth group... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:16 +0000 Terry Lum Terry Lum In recent years, warnings about Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population have become increasingly urgent. Long hospital waits, chronic shortages in long-term care and a shrinking working-age population have led many policymakers and researchers to portray ageing as an approaching demographic crisis that a small, densely populated city might be unable to absorb. In some quarters, this has fuelled dire predictions about the sustainability of Hong Kong’s healthcare and social care systems. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Earlier this week I stumbled on a fascinating piece of research led by geography professor Becky Loo at the University of Hong Kong and soon to be published in the Nature Cities journal. Fascinating not just because of its scale – an analysis of 200,000 household travel surveys covering Boston, Chicago, London, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong – but because of its focus on daily mobility and social mixing. Its key finding? That people aged over 66 have more encounters with a broader cross-section of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s falling birth rate brings to mind a tune from decades ago: “Two is enough, two is enough, girl or boy, two is enough.” At the time, the Family Planning Association campaign made perfect sense. The city was crowded, resources were tight and limiting population growth... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349588/clock-ticking-reversing-hong-kongs-birth-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349588/clock-ticking-reversing-hong-kongs-birth-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s low birth rate has shrunk the number of children attending school, burdening school budgets and threatening pupils’ learning. We must swiftly reform our schools for a brighter educational and economic future. Since 2012, Hong Kong’s crude birth rate has fallen most... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Nicole Chan Nicole Chan Across Asia’s densest cities, the milestones of adulthood are quietly shifting. Couples share kitchens with parents. Some wait years on public housing lists. Others secure a flat before thinking about a ring. In some cases, keys come before vows. Increasingly, love moves in step with property. Square footage, mortgage approvals and ballot results shape decisions that once felt spontaneous. At first glance, falling fertility rates might look like a purely economic or demographic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346224/when-homes-are-small-and-costly-dreams-having-family-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3346224/when-homes-are-small-and-costly-dreams-having-family-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong hit a record low in births last year despite a range of government incentives, including a HK$20,000 (US$2,560) baby cash bonus for new parents launched in 2023. Just 31,714 babies were born last year. This might have come as a surprise for the authorities, which had projected a rise to 39,000 births. So was the baby bonus worth the try? Yes, if we can draw insight from the experience. To be fair, it wasn’t the only thing the government had done to encourage babies. It rolled out tax... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Births in Hong Kong fell to a record low of 31,100 in 2025, but the education minister has insisted that school policies are not to blame. The Census and Statistics Department said on Thursday that the city’s population was provisionally estimated at 7.51 million in 2025, up 0.1 per cent year on year, with a net inflow of 29,100 Hong Kong residents. Some 50,000 deaths were recorded in the year. The number of births last year was 1,400 fewer than the previous record low of 32,500 in 2022. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343320/record-low-31100-births-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343320/record-low-31100-births-hong-kong-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:10:33 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse We live in an interesting time. It has become clear that many Hong Kong couples would rather have a pet than a child. Small families are now the norm: a 2022 survey by the Family Planning Association showed that childless families made up 43.2 per cent of the population, followed by one-child families at 27.4 per cent and two-child families at 25.2 per cent. Anyone still in doubt would have done well to attend the recent Hong Kong Pet Show, which attracted around 370,000 visitors over the four... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:30:15 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip Mainland China’s and Hong Kong’s birth rates fell to record lows last year, despite extensive government incentives to encourage larger families. In Hong Kong, registered births fell 14 per cent to a historic low of 31,714 in 2025. Notably, the increase in births in 2024 may have been due to the auspicious Year of the Dragon. It is believed that babies born in the dragon year will grow up to be smart and successful. This is likely to have affected the timing of births as seen in Hong Kong during... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Incentives aimed at reversing a falling birth rate seem like a sensible investment for an ageing society. Hong Kong is no exception, with initiatives ranging from a cash handout to family-friendly policies. But an upward trend in the city’s birth registrations in 2023 and 2024 has proved short-lived and attributable to one-off factors. The year 2023 was the first after the social distancing and uncertainties of the pandemic. Then 2024 was the Year of the Dragon, deemed auspicious for having... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340991/hong-kongs-daunting-task-become-baby-friendly-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340991/hong-kongs-daunting-task-become-baby-friendly-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The dust has settled on the election of the Legislative Council president, and committees and panels have settled into the new Legco. Most, it seems, are ready to hit the ground running. First on the agenda: dealing with the aftermath of the Tai Po fire. The more immediate matters involve the rebuilding of a community that has lost so much. Equally pressing are the long-standing issues laid bare by the tragic fire that demand the government fix the entire building sector. Consultations with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Dicky Chow,Jessie Zhang,Curtis Lam Dicky Chow,Jessie Zhang,Curtis Lam Looking back at 2025, the city made meaningful strides in supporting its retirees. The government expanded the Elderly Health Care Voucher and Community Care Service Voucher schemes, and invested HK$2 billion (US$256.47 million) in an elderly and rehabilitation technology fund. It also announced 30 measures for the silver economy and formed the Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies to improve cross-bureau coordination. These efforts helped launch the long-awaited Q-Mark Silver Scheme,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339782/year-hong-kong-must-resolve-rewrite-script-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339782/year-hong-kong-must-resolve-rewrite-script-retirement?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 01:30:10 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell More than 2,300 years ago, Aristotle mused in Politics that to live alone, a man must be a god or a beast, or words to that effect. I wonder what he would have thought of the popularity of China’s “Are You Dead?” app. For Aristotle, we are social animals, thriving in the “polis” in the company of family, friends and fellow citizens. The average mother had at least five children. Many homes housed three, even four, generations. Family life was noisy and crowded, full of companionship, contest and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340039/families-shrink-our-primary-relationship-increasingly-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3340039/families-shrink-our-primary-relationship-increasingly-ourselves?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Sunika Joshi Sunika Joshi With more than one in three Hongkongers estimated to be 65 or older by 2050, the city must decide whether to spend the coming years improving an overburdened healthcare system or to entirely transform the structure to address the silent epidemic of mental health crises among the elderly. Hong Kong is expected to have the world’s oldest population by 2050. While longevity is a remarkable indication of good health and an excellent medical system, it also comes with challenges beyond those of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3338612/how-hong-kong-can-tackle-its-silent-elderly-mental-health-epidemic?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The traditional population census can seem a tedious exercise in form filling and answering questions about various aspects of our lives that comes around only once every five years. That does not do it justice. A census provides governments, businesses and researchers with data on demographics such as age, sex, ethnicity, marital status and children, and socio-economics like income, education and housing. They use it to guide policy, plan services like schools, transport and hospitals, allocate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3337462/hong-kongs-re-engineered-2026-census-rightly-moving-times?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3337462/hong-kongs-re-engineered-2026-census-rightly-moving-times?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong authorities will exempt 90 per cent of households from a population census next year, opting instead for a “re-engineered” model that uses existing data to track the city’s demographics – a major break from decades of statistical tradition. Commissioner for Census and Statistics Leo Yu Chun-keung said on Friday that the 2026 population census had been revamped to improve workflow while saving on manpower. “To modernise the mode of Hong Kong’s population census, we will implement... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337070/hong-kong-exempt-90-households-re-engineered-2026-census?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337070/hong-kong-exempt-90-households-re-engineered-2026-census?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 09:27:19 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The Hong Kong government’s incentives to boost fertility are welcome, but they risk mistaking a cash transfusion for a cure. An 11 per cent rebound in births is encouraging, yet the same data reveals cause for pessimism: even after the HK$20,000 (US$2,570) baby bonus, 36,700... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s fertility policy has recently taken a more proactive turn. Tax breaks, priority housing, childcare support and even a HK$20,000 (US$2,572) baby bonus are intended to ease the burden on young families. But do these measures really address the realities that my... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326374/hong-kong-parents-need-sustained-support-rather-one-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326374/hong-kong-parents-need-sustained-support-rather-one-bonuses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 03:30:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of babies born in Hong Kong is likely to drop in 2025 after increasing for the previous two years, with the figure potentially returning to near the record low of 2022, a Post analysis has found. A population expert said the impact of a three-year HK$20,000 (US$2,570) cash handout scheme for every newborn was minimal, and he did not expect a tax concession announced in the latest policy address to help stimulate the birth rate. The number of registered births in the first seven months... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326056/why-number-hong-kong-newborns-could-drop-near-record-low-despite-measures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326056/why-number-hong-kong-newborns-could-drop-near-record-low-despite-measures?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:30:12 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have pledged to allocate HK$500 million (US$64.2 million) annually for recurrent expenditure to support carers, including establishing a high-risk family database and installing accident detection systems. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made this pledge on Wednesday while delivering his annual policy address, which included a range of measures to tackle the city’s rapidly ageing population and a rise in family tragedies. “We do not have a concrete plan on how to spend the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325903/hong-kong-pledges-hk500-million-yearly-support-carers-amid-ageing-population?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325903/hong-kong-pledges-hk500-million-yearly-support-carers-amid-ageing-population?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:38:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The desire to live a long life is a fundamental part of the human condition. Evidence suggests Hong Kong residents generally reach an older age than people living anywhere else in the world. This is an impressive achievement, but it also poses multiple challenges as the city’s population continues to age. Census and Statistics Department figures show life expectancy in Hong Kong increased in 2024, as it did in 2023, after a drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. Women are, at birth, expected to live... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3324479/hongkongers-longevity-point-pride-and-opportunity-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3324479/hongkongers-longevity-point-pride-and-opportunity-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A higher level of engagement in society is among the reasons Hong Kong women’s life expectancy has reached a record high, experts have said, calling for gender-specific solutions to support the city’s ageing population. Academics and other specialists said that less exposure to high-risk activities and a willingness to seek help were also among factors for women living longer than men in Hong Kong. Their analysis followed the recent release of a Census and Statistics Department report, “Women... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324105/why-has-hong-kong-womens-life-expectancy-hit-record-high-what-about-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324105/why-has-hong-kong-womens-life-expectancy-hit-record-high-what-about-men?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:31 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong schools appear to have staunched the problem of shrinking enrolment as fewer Primary One classes are being cut this year, according to official data, with the sector attributing the improvement to an influx of children of mainland Chinese talent. According to Primary School Profiles 2025 released on Monday, there are 1,569 Primary One classes in public schools this year, 12 fewer than the 1,581 in 2024. Last year, there were 26 Primary One classes fewer than in the 2023-24 school... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323969/hong-kong-schools-cut-fewer-primary-one-classes-after-boost-talent-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323969/hong-kong-schools-cut-fewer-primary-one-classes-after-boost-talent-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:36:43 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hongkongers’ already impressive life expectancies rose further in 2024 after falling during the pandemic, with women living on average for a record 88.4 years and men for 82.8 years, census figures show. But a Census and Statistics Department report also underscored the increasing strain on the city’s public healthcare system, with the number of inpatient and day inpatient discharges and deaths in hospitals increasing by 5.8 per cent in a year. Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea have the longest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3323830/life-expectancy-hong-kong-women-hits-record-while-men-also-get-lift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3323830/life-expectancy-hong-kong-women-hits-record-while-men-also-get-lift?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 14:34:13 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The number of marriages in Hong Kong in 2024 fell by 7.4 per cent from the previous year, while the tally of people who were divorced, widowed or separated rose by 5.2 per cent, according to the latest census report. The “Women and Men in Hong Kong” report, which was published by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday, also showed the number of newborns last year rose by 10.5 per cent, but the overall population of children aged up to 14 fell by 4.7 per cent. According to the latest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323805/not-so-happily-ever-after-number-marriages-hong-kong-drops-74?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323805/not-so-happily-ever-after-number-marriages-hong-kong-drops-74?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:43:37 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Maintaining the status quo is hardly enough for a city with a big appetite for development. But the latest report of Hong Kong’s population remaining unchanged amid an ongoing exodus is reassuring news. The question is whether such a trend can be sustained in the longer term. Thanks to the inflow under various immigration measures, the midyear population was described by the government as “virtually unchanged” when compared to the same period last year. There was just a slight increase of 3,400... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323152/hong-kong-must-ensure-its-more-revolving-door-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323152/hong-kong-must-ensure-its-more-revolving-door-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Suicide is the leading cause of death among insured people aged under 25 in Hong Kong, an insurance claim study has found, with a professional body warning that holders of term life policies are a high-risk group. The Actuarial Society of Hong Kong said on Tuesday that its research found that the suicide rate related to insurance death claims involving residents aged under 25 had risen from 9 per cent in 2001 to 25 per cent in 2022, with the incidence higher than in other groups. The study,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323202/suicide-rate-among-insured-young-people-hong-kong-surges-25-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323202/suicide-rate-among-insured-young-people-hong-kong-surges-25-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:17:38 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s population has stabilised and remains “virtually unchanged” for the first time in a decade, following an influx of talent in recent years after waves of emigration. The Census and Statistics Department said on Thursday that Hong Kong’s midyear population stood at 7,527,500, a slight increase of 3,400 from 12 months ago, or a rise of about 0.005 per cent. “The population remained virtually unchanged, as compared with that at mid-2024,” the government said, attributing it to ongoing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321876/virtually-unchanged-hong-kongs-population-stabilises-first-time-decade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321876/virtually-unchanged-hong-kongs-population-stabilises-first-time-decade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Aug 2025 09:31:29 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of potentially extending a baby bonus scheme to talent admitted to Hong Kong to boost the birth rate, despite some professionals complaining about being left out. Experts and lawmakers said that other incentives and measures were needed to encourage childbearing and boost the birth rate. Last month, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme was under review, with authorities to consider suggestions,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320558/should-hong-kongs-baby-bonus-scheme-include-talent-boost-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320558/should-hong-kongs-baby-bonus-scheme-include-talent-boost-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 01:00:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s progress in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, attracting tourists, talent and investment, has given the city much to be positive about. But this is not felt by all members of the community and many residents still struggle with their mental health. They must not be left behind. A study by Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong has revealed that 1,138 people committed suicide in the city last year. The rate of 15.1 per 100,000 is the highest since 2003. It is a stark reminder of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318740/boosting-suicide-prevention-must-be-part-hong-kongs-recovery-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318740/boosting-suicide-prevention-must-be-part-hong-kongs-recovery-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 23:15:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities will consider extending a baby bonus scheme to cover newborns of parents under the talent programmes, the city’s welfare minister has said, as more than HK$900 million (US$114.6 million) in such rewards have been distributed to encourage childbearing since 2023. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that authorities had received 49,567 qualified applications under the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme as of the end of last month, with a one-off cash... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318439/hong-kong-consider-giving-baby-bonuses-talent-scheme-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318439/hong-kong-consider-giving-baby-bonuses-talent-scheme-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:16:18 +0000 Caroline Qiqige Wang Caroline Qiqige Wang Hong Kong has long been known as an international financial hub where fortunes are made in office towers that form the city’s iconic skyline. Its free-market economy has given rise to some of Asia’s wealthiest and most powerful families and firms. But beneath the glitz and glamour lies a sobering level of inequality. Some people are unable to pay for basic groceries due to rising inflation, while others live on the streets despite having paid jobs. Poverty alleviation is a major goal cited by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316208/paradise-rich-hell-poor-hong-kong-among-worlds-most-unequal-cities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3316208/paradise-rich-hell-poor-hong-kong-among-worlds-most-unequal-cities?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 22:30:09 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan By 2046, an estimated 36 per cent of Hong Kong’s population will be over 65. The Hong Kong government has announced 30 measures to promote the silver economy. While targeting the consumption power of the elderly may provide a much-needed boost to the economy, it is far from a solution to the mounting challenges posed by our rapidly ageing society. As a carer for two wheelchair-bound parents, I face daily struggles that underscore the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to ageing. These... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3314105/silver-economy-far-enough-rapidly-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3314105/silver-economy-far-enough-rapidly-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Thomas Tang Thomas Tang Hong Kong’s Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing has announced dozens of measures to promote the “silver economy” and address the needs of the city’s ageing population. These cover five main areas: boosting consumption, developing tailor-made products, promoting quality assurance of “silver” products, strengthening financial and insurance protection, and encouraging older residents to re-enter the job market. These are all good intentions, but it also begs the question: where is the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3313334/get-elderly-housing-right-and-hong-kongs-silver-economy-can-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3313334/get-elderly-housing-right-and-hong-kongs-silver-economy-can-take?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 21:30:07 +0000 With a projected 23 per cent decline in Primary One students over the next six years, Hong Kong is grappling with how to manage the structural shift in its education sector. Recently, the Education Bureau announced that two schools would not offer subsidised Primary One classes for the coming academic year, highlighting the urgency of the situation. In contrast to local schools, international schools in Hong Kong are known for their small class sizes, personalised support and superior... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3304533/hong-kong-must-think-small-when-it-comes-class-sizes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3304533/hong-kong-must-think-small-when-it-comes-class-sizes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Apr 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Bravo to the lawmakers for their hard work in pushing for the lifting of restrictions for the storage of gametes or embryos for personal use for Hong Kong residents. Their hard work has come to fruition. Last week, the Council on Human Reproductive Technology formally proposed that Hongkongers should be allowed to store embryos for as long as they want, regardless of the age, sex or medical conditions of the residents. The same day, it launched a month-long public consultation on the matter. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3302426/lifting-embryo-storage-restriction-good-first-step-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3302426/lifting-embryo-storage-restriction-good-first-step-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Two Hong Kong schools in areas with declining school-age populations will not run any subsidised Primary One classes in the 2025-26 academic year, education authorities have said, as the city wrestles with shrinking student numbers. The Education Bureau sent letters on Thursday to all subsidised and government primary schools to inform them about class structures and staffing arrangements for Primary One to Six over the next academic year. But Aplichau Kaifong Primary School in Southern district... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3302293/2-hong-kong-schools-wont-run-subsidised-primary-one-classes-2025-26?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3302293/2-hong-kong-schools-wont-run-subsidised-primary-one-classes-2025-26?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:48:42 +0000 Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s decision to rein in the HK$2 (26 US cents) public transport concessionary fare scheme has given rise to the public perception that the Hong Kong government regards ageing as a fiscal burden. This sentiment is hardly new. Whenever elderly care is discussed, it seems to be framed as a zero-sum debate where policymakers are stuck between the dilemma of tax increases or welfare cuts. This overlooks the dual economic role of senior citizens as consumers and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301842/hong-kong-seniors-are-economic-force-not-budget-write?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3301842/hong-kong-seniors-are-economic-force-not-budget-write?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Population figures released by the Census Statistics Department this month show that Hong Kong’s population has risen by 0.1 per cent to just over 7.53 million, the third straight year it has increased. Our population size seems to be stabilising, unlike in Japan or mainland China, where populations are shrinking. However, upon examining the three key components of population growth – births, deaths and net migration – some trends require attention, despite a lack of discussion in the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3300060/hong-kongs-population-stabilising-no-theres-room-grow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3300060/hong-kongs-population-stabilising-no-theres-room-grow?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Feb 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Major banks and insurers in Hong Kong including HSBC, Manulife and BOC Life are lining up plans to expand their services to elderly residents, a sizeable segment of the city’s population. People aged 65 and above made up 22 per cent of the city’s 7.5 million residents last year, according to the statistics department. Since 1971, life expectancy in Hong Kong has increased to 82.5 years from 67.8 for men and to 88.1 from 75.3 for women in 2023. BOC Life aims to widen its “RetireCation” programme... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292295/boc-life-hsbc-manulife-aim-bigger-share-hong-kongs-silver-hair-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3292295/boc-life-hsbc-manulife-aim-bigger-share-hong-kongs-silver-hair-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Dec 2024 06:00:14 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification If Hong Kong were an athlete, it would currently be facing a performance plateau. Once celebrated as one of Asia’s four tiger economies for its rapid growth from the late 1970s to 1990s, Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3289135/rest-and-recovery-will-help-hong-kong-compete-top-level-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3289135/rest-and-recovery-will-help-hong-kong-compete-top-level-again?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Dec 2024 03:30:07 +0000 In the ongoing conversation about fertility and family planning, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is often highlighted as a beacon of hope for the many couples grappling with infertility. The common argument is that it will help lift Hong Kong’s low fertility rate. However, this is a false hope. The additional babies born because of widely accessible IVF comprise only a small percentage of the total births in countries such as Denmark, the Czech Republic and Israel. The potential impact of IVF on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3287324/expecting-ivf-solve-hong-kongs-population-problems-misguided?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3287324/expecting-ivf-solve-hong-kongs-population-problems-misguided?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 01:30:08 +0000 A Hong Kong lawmaker has come up with a novel solution to the city’s low birth rate: baby photos in government offices. According to Bill Tang Ka-piu of the Federation of Trade Unions, the authorities need to create an environment friendly to baby-making. The logic is that once people see these adorable baby photos, they will feel like making adorable versions of themselves. And we should start with civil servants, he says, since they have job and income stability – and no excuse. As Tang put... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3285847/hong-kong-needs-credible-fertility-policies-not-baby-photos-offices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3285847/hong-kong-needs-credible-fertility-policies-not-baby-photos-offices?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification News that snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken up Hong Kong residency under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme has sparked renewed conversations around the city’s efforts to attract... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3285077/just-low-taxes-and-good-food-wont-make-hong-kong-talent-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3285077/just-low-taxes-and-good-food-wont-make-hong-kong-talent-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:30:08 +0000 A Hong Kong lawmaker has come up with a novel idea to help address the city’s falling birth rate: displaying photos of babies in government offices to encourage civil servants to have children. Bill Tang Ka-piu of the Federation of Trade Unions said on Monday that authorities should create an environment that encourages people to have children, starting with government workers. He was speaking at a Legislative Council meeting to discuss measures to boost Hong Kong’s births. “All government... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3285099/hong-kong-lawmaker-proposes-displaying-baby-photos-government-offices-boost-childbirths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3285099/hong-kong-lawmaker-proposes-displaying-baby-photos-government-offices-boost-childbirths?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:27:16 +0000 Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme has been a resounding success in terms of attracting applicants and approving applications, but visa holders’ success in finding work has been patchy. The scheme, which was launched in December 2022, initially targeted 35,000 approvals a year for the two-year visas granted to successful applicants (editor’s note: the target will rise to 50,000 a year in 2025). Criteria for approval were relatively streamlined: Applicants needed to either have at least a... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3284587/hong-kongs-top-talent-visa-scheme-has-many-takers-mainland-chinese-predominating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3284587/hong-kongs-top-talent-visa-scheme-has-many-takers-mainland-chinese-predominating?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:00:22 +0000 Most arrivals under Hong Kong’s top talent scheme are from mainland China. In the last of a three-part series, Kahon Chan learns that many go all out to get their children into the city’s best schools. See part one here and part two here. Thea Tong Haoxiang arrived in Hong Kong from Shenyang in February 2023 with her teenage daughter for a long-awaited holiday, their first trip outside mainland China since the Covid-19 pandemic. The city skyline from The Peak left her in awe, but it was a scene... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3283953/moving-children-hong-kong-schools-main-draw-top-talent-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3283953/moving-children-hong-kong-schools-main-draw-top-talent-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Oct 2024 01:30:21 +0000 Why are so many people who came to Hong Kong via a scheme to attract global talent selling insurance? In the second of a three-part series, Kahon Chan explores how the still-thriving insurance sector has become a safety net for those hoping to renew their visas to remain in the city. Read part one here. Mainland Chinese professionals have been going online since the start of the year to talk about ways to remain in Hong Kong’s top talent scheme even without having jobs of their choice. On... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3283748/insurance-policy-hong-kong-visa-why-top-talent-mainland-opt-become-agents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3283748/insurance-policy-hong-kong-visa-why-top-talent-mainland-opt-become-agents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Oct 2024 23:30:12 +0000