On a mission to support social development, Chief Executive John Lee outlined in his 2025 Policy Address a series of critical initiatives on promoting fertility, supporting ethnic minorities, as well as measures for enhancing care team services and building management.
Promoting fertility
The Chief Executive noted that the number of newborn babies has decreased for six consecutive years since 2017, but there was an upward trend in 2023 and 2024.
“In 2024, there was a significant increase in the number of newborns, a year-on-year increase of about 3,500 babies, or about 11%, adding up to 36,700 babies born in total.”
To further promote newborns, Mr Lee set out the following initiatives in the 2025 Policy Address:
(i) Extending the claim period of additional child allowance for newborns from one year to two years – starting from the year of assessment 2026-27, a taxpayer may claim twice the allowance, ie $260,000, for each child in the first two years following childbirth;
(ii) Enhancing infant and child day care service – 15 new aided child care centres will be set up over the next three years to provide about 1,500 day care service places for children between birth and three years old, almost doubling the existing supply;
(iii) Enhancing the School-based After School Care Service Scheme within this school year by removing the cap on the number of places;
(iv) Setting up dedicated counters for pregnant women to facilitate their waiting for medical services;
(v) Supporting assisted reproductive services – the Council on Human Reproductive Technology has made amendments to the legislation, removing the statutory storage periods of gametes and embryos for own use. Such amendments will take effect this December. Moreover, the Hospital Authority will increase the service quota for assisted reproductive service to 1,500 treatment cycles in 2025-26; and
(vi) Fostering a family‑friendly culture – the Government will encourage more employers, through the Good Employer Charter, to adopt family-friendly employment practices such as flexible working hours.
Separately, the Government will increase the annual funding of the Women Empowerment Fund from $20 million to $30 million to subsidise women’s organisations and non-governmental organisations launching projects that promote women’s development.
Support for ethnic minorities (EM)
Mr Lee announced that the Home Affairs Department will set up one additional EM Care Team under the Support Service Centres, serving the North and Islands Districts. The department will also establish a Youth Network and a Women’s Network at the 10 Support Service Centres for EMs to organise activities specifically for EM youth and women. Furthermore, an additional Interpretation & Translation Service Centre for EMs will be set up in December.
On top of that, the Health Bureau will take forward the pilot project of providing emotional support and counselling services for EMs through a service centre.
Support for non-Chinese speaking students
It is proposed in the Policy Address that the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Chinese Proficiency Test learning materials, tailored for non-Chinese speaking students, be extended from the upper primary level to the junior secondary level in the 2026-27 school year.
Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies
Pointing out that ageing is a global issue, the Chief Executive announced that the Government will set up a Working Group on Ageing Society Strategies, under the steer of the Deputy Chief Secretary, to co-ordinate the efforts of various bureaus in formulating the strategy responses.
Mr Lee elaborated: “Aside from covering areas such as elderly care, healthcare, housing, culture and leisure, and gerontechnology, the working group will consider promoting the further development of silver economy.
“The working group will take into account the views of the Elderly Commission, and submit a report next year.”
Protecting children, supporting students
Mr Lee highlighted in the Policy Address that the Government will set up an Integrated Family Service Centre in Kwu Tung North New Development Area in the Northern Metropolis to support families and children in the area. In addition, the Government will support and educate divorced or separated parents to collaborate in shouldering continuous and joint parental responsibilities in raising their children.
The Government also plans to offer transitional support to young people who no longer receive residential child‑care services but lack family support.
For children with special needs receiving On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services, the Government will provide bridging and support services during their first term in primary school.
Care team services
Noting that District Services & Community Care Teams will soon begin their second term of service, Mr Lee said the Government has increased the subsidy by 50%, and provided such voluntary care teams with additional administrative support, including hiring administrative staff.
Building management
To improve building management, the Chief Executive outlined that the Home Affairs Department will implement a number of measures, including establishing working groups under District Councils to share experience, expanding the Pilot Scheme on Joint Property Management to other districts, and reviewing the Building Management Ordinance.
Additionally, the Government will enhance the inspection and testing procedures for handling water seepage problems by utilising technology to expedite the identification of the seepage situation and delineate the responsibility, requiring owners to inspect and rectify within a specified time, or else the Government will take further action and recover costs from owners.
“This will prompt owners to fulfil their obligations in properly maintaining their properties,” he explained.
“We will also actively promote mediation to resolve disputes between residents. An Internet of Things fire detection system will also be introduced in old buildings to replace traditional fire service installations and equipment,” the Chief Executive added.
