Hong Kong women want to have more children

About 39% said they want more than one.

A Family Planning Association of Hong Kong survey also revealed that the number of women desiring a child or another child rose to 20.2% last year from 12.7% in 2007, the highest figure since 1992.

The survey further showed that 39% of women would like to have more children.

The main reasons given by those who did not wish to have any children and those who desired only one child were the heavy responsibility and financial burden of raising them.

Based on the survey, FPA said childbirth cannot be encouraged solely by one-off financial incentives. The government should work on various fronts to create a social environment conducive to setting-up a family and raising children.

This might include fostering a family-friendly working environment and culture, enhancement of and subsidies for education and child-care services, and making available housing that is affordable and can meet family needs.

FPA said any policy involving the government giving out cash allowances or requiring employers to provide increased employee benefits will involve substantial public money and increased operating costs for enterprises and should be handled with great care.