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Families with newborn babies starting Wednesday (Oct 25) will have priorities to the Home Ownership Scheme flats and public rental housing, while enjoying a HK$20,000 one-off cash bonus.
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Starting next year, 10 percent of HOS and GSH flats will be reserved for balloting and priority selection for families with babies born today or after until the children reach the age of three.
Families with newborn babies waiting for a public rental flat can also see their waiting time reduced by one year starting April next year.
Lee said the government will provide a one-off cash bonus of HK$20,000 for each newborn baby in Hong Kong whose father or mother is a permanent resident, adding the bonus will last for three years and will be reviewed then.
The tax deduction ceiling for home loan interest or domestic rents will also be raised from the current HK$100,000 to HK$120,000 for taxpayers living with their first child born today or after until the child reaches the age of 18.
To support families with babies, the government will increase the working family allowance by 15 percent starting next April.
The government is also aiming to attract more community child carers by increasing their intent payment from the current HK$25 per hour to HK$60 for taking care of children aged 0 to 3, and HK$40 for carers looking after children aged 3 to 9.
The number of service places under the project will be doubled to 2,000 and 20,000 children will benefit from the scheme.
In addition, ten more aided standalone child care centers will be set up in phases over the next three years starting from 2024 to provide about 900 additional places for day child care services.
The Child Care Centre Parent Subsidy will also be increased from a maximum of HK$600 to HK$1,000 per month.
