Your Voice: Boosting Hong Kong’s fertility rate; Crucial for all to register as lifelong blood donors (long letters)

I am writing to express my opinion on the reasons for Hong Kong’s declining fertility rate and the policies implemented by the city’s government to encourage childbirth.

The fertility rate in many places, including Hong Kong, is decreasing, and people are less willing to have children. This decline leads to the problem of an ageing population. Concerned about decreasing productivity and the increasing expenditure on social welfare, the Hong Kong government has introduced measures to boost the fertility rate in the city.

Firstly, it is necessary to understand the reasons behind the falling fertility rate. Financial considerations are undoubtedly a major factor. Life has become more expensive, especially in the last few years, and the cost of living has increased. Raising a child requires a significant amount of time and money. With increasing prices, the cost of raising a child is rising.

Additionally, taking care of a child is demanding and time-consuming. It is common to hear about mothers giving up their jobs to care for their offspring, sometimes sacrificing their sleep, as their children wake up in the middle of the night, crying. It may also be difficult to find someone to care for a child while their parents work. These factors make childbearing a daunting task and discourage some individuals from procreating.

In his 2023 policy address, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced several measures to encourage people to have children.

One of these measures is the Newborn Baby Bonus, which provides HK$20,000 for each baby born in the next three years. While this may seem attractive, the subsidy alone is not enough to cover hospital expenses. However, we can still view it positively, as it can help families with some of the substantial expenses associated with giving birth and purchasing baby products.

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Another measure is an increase in the accommodation-related tax deduction ceiling. This raises the limit of housing-related tax deductions for families with newborns. I believe this measure provides more long-lasting help for families, as reducing their yearly tax expenses is more beneficial than providing them with a one-time lump sum.

There are also measures in place to provide families with newborn babies a warm home. These include increasing their chances to purchase subsidised sale flats and reducing their wait time for public rental housing flats by one year.

The wait time for public housing in Hong Kong is notoriously long, and purchasing a flat is challenging. Measures aimed at helping families with newborns by increasing their chances of living comfortably are necessary, as a good living environment allows children to grow up healthier and happier.

The declining fertility rate poses a threat to the development of Hong Kong. I hope the government will continue to observe the needs of its citizens and implement more effective measures to improve the current situation, leading Hong Kong towards a better and brighter future.

Pang Ka-ching, Kowloon True Light School

Blood is essential for sustaining human life. However, there is a shortage of blood in hospitals, which poses a threat to patient care and forces doctors to make difficult decisions regarding who can receive blood transfusions.

According to the Population Health Survey 2020-2022, 43.2 per cent of citizens aged 15 or above report having at least one chronic health condition. Many of these conditions, such as anaemia and cancer, require blood donations for recovery or to maintain life. Despite the evident need for blood donors, many people are hesitant to donate.

One reason for this is the dwindling donor pool, as older adults, who contribute to a significant proportion of the donations, are ageing without younger donors replacing them at a sufficient pace. With fewer donors, it is not surprising that the existing blood supply often fails to meet unexpected surges in demand.

Reluctance to donate blood primarily stems from ignorance and excuses. Some individuals believe that the elderly cannot donate blood, while others claim that blood donation weakens the immune system. Such misinformation discourages people from donating blood.

To dispel the myth that blood donation is inconvenient, consider two facts: donating blood takes only eight to 10 minutes, while the average lunch break spans 30 to 45 minutes. The Red Cross’s mobile blood donation vehicles regularly travel throughout Hong Kong, making blood donation easily accessible.

Blood donation causes neither harm nor inconvenience. These excuses are merely perpetuated by individuals lacking knowledge about the process.

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It is clear that we all need to support the ones in need, and we can lend a helping hand by donating blood, volunteering at blood donation stations, or spreading the message to everyone we know.

Without donors, millions of lives are at risk, and doctors are left with the burden of making life-or-death decisions. Each blood donation can save up to three lives. Imagine if you were the one in need of a blood transfusion, only to be told by a doctor that there is none available. This realisation emphasises why it is crucial for all of us to register as lifelong blood donors.