Jamie Liu

More than 70 percent of Hongkongers do not want children, citing financial burdens as the top reason, according to a survey by a women's rights group.

It revealed that only 28 percent of people want kids - just 2 percent more than last year.

The survey was conducted by the Hong Kong Women Development Association from January 12 to February 12 this year. It interviewed 1,320 residents under 50 years old, and 960 others above that age.

When comparing the results of the past 10 surveys, the number of people who wanted children in the past three years has been at a historic low, the association found.

The results also showed that younger individuals are less inclined to have children. Only 23 percent within the 19-29 age group indicated willingness to have kids compared to 33 percent for respondents aged 30-39.

The top reason for not having children is financial burden, with many fearing their salary increases will fail to catch up with the rapidly growing cost of raising a child due to inflation.

Personal freedoms overtook housing shortage to become the second top reason this year. Other factors include busy work life and insufficient childcare resources.

In recent years, the government has implemented various measures to encourage births in Hong Kong, but the survey found that respondents were not incentivized by the policies.

Services to help couples with fertility problems was seen as the least popular, while tax concessions for families with newborns got the second-lowest rating.

The Hong Kong Women Development Association suggested the government establish a fund to support families in raising children, implement standard working hours and encourage more family-friendly workplace policies.

The financial burden has been cited as the top reason why most decide not to have children. SING TAO

Majority of Hongkongers don't plan on having kids