Baby bonus due in first quarter

Wallis Wang

The HK$20,000 one-time bonus for parents of newborns is expected to be paid in the first quarter of next year pending Legislative Council approval.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki followed up by stressing the fertility rate in Hong Kong is just 0.9 births per woman, but it should be at least 2.1 to maintain the population. The rate is "extremely low," Chan said, yet it would be hard to achieve the 2.1 target. Many advanced cities in the world could not achieve that.

Still, administration officials should still try their best so people realize the advantages of having children.

He admitted, however, there is no guarantee all the children born in Hong Kong grow up in the city. But more youngsters will remain as long as the economy stays vibrant with overall birth rate increases.

"Young couples have different considerations," Chan went on, "and some even prefer pets rather than having children. It is hard to change a person's mind. But the purpose of our policies is to ease the concern of those who are willing to have children."

He said the birth rate will not see a rapid increase, and the HK$20,000 is to express gratitude to new parents.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin underlined that families with newborns have priority in buying flats under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Green Form Subsidized Home Ownership Scheme and the private subsidized flat sale pilot scheme.

And families enjoy the priorities until their children reach three.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau urged people to have kids when as parents they are at an age that increases the chance of a successful pregnancy through reducing risks to pregnant women and an unborn child.

Yet in a radio phone-in program yesterday a mother of four complained to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu that she was not able to benefit from the birth measures in his policy address.

"I just gave birth to my fourth child in May but found I cannot benefit from any policies after listening to the policy address," she said "I won't enjoy priorities in the Home Ownership Scheme or public rental flats."

A man phoned in to question how authorities can prevent abuse of the measures. In response, Lee said the measures are only a gesture to encourage people to have children, adding that costs would be too high if the administration had to consider every family's needs.

Lee also said policies are to encourage people to have kids as soon as possible as he referred to putting more resources into measures related to egg freezing.

"We aim to encourage people to have kids as soon as possible, when they are in the best of health, and I believe [egg freezing] is not in line with our policies," he said. "We all hope to have kids when we are strong so we can have a strong next generation."

Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, deputy chief secretary for administration, said parents must apply for the HK$20,000 along with a birth certificate within 42 days of a delivery. If parents miss that opportunity they will have to act within 180 days of a first birthday to apply for the baby bonus.

Parents have to provide basic information and file the bonus application in person at Immigration Department births registries. Users of the government iAM Smart app can apply online.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com

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