Parents reminded to submit application for HK$20,000 within 42 days after birth

Parents will have to submit the paper form or online application for the HK$20,000 childbirth incentive within 42 days after their baby is born, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Thursday. 

This came after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his second policy address that the government will hand out a one-off cash bonus of HK$20,000 for each newborn whose father or mother is a permanent resident. 

The HK$2.4 billion scheme applies to babies born from yesterday (Oct 25) to October 24, 2026, costing the government HK$800 million a year. 

In a media session today, Cheuk said the application form will be provided by the Immigration Department’s Birth Registries. Apart from the paper form, eligible parents who have opened an “iAM Smart” account can also apply for the bonus online. 

Parents need to provide a local bank account number along with the registered account holder. They will also have to complete the application procedures within six months from the baby’s birth at the latest, Cheuk said. 

Cheuk expects parents to receive the HK$20,000 as soon as the first quarter of 2024 after the proposed sum is approved by the Legislative Council finance committee. 

Parents should receive the bonus in two to three weeks after filing the application providing they fulfill all the requirements and the information they provide is correct. 

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the birth rate will have to reach 2.1 should Hong Kong maintain the level of local population. Yet, some youngsters have decided not to have any children and it’s tough to change their minds even though the government is promoting relevant benefits through family education, he noted. 

Chan described the HK$20,000 as only a “lai see” as he believes not that many citizens will decide to have kids just because of the incentive. 

When asked why not encourage childbirth by pumping up both the maternity and paternity leaves, Chan said they have increased the number of paternity leaves already. Authorities also have to balance various factors before adding more holidays amid a labor shortage. 

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau encouraged citizens to have kids as early as possible, saying it will also minimize the risk posed to high-age pregnant women and their babies. 

In the next five years, the Hospital Authority will also increase the quota for external fertilization services from the current 1,100 a year to 1,800, Lo added.