Lawmaker says some people have complained about being left out of bonus scheme
Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of potentially extending a baby bonus scheme to talent admitted to Hong Kong to boost the birth rate, despite some professionals complaining about being left out.
Experts and lawmakers said that other incentives and measures were needed to encourage childbearing and boost the birth rate.
Last month, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the Newborn Baby Bonus Scheme was under review, with authorities to consider suggestions, including whether to extend it to cover families arriving in the city under various talent programmes.
The one-off cash allowance of HK$20,000 (US$2,550) had been distributed to 48,984 applicants as of the end of June, with HK$979 million handed out in total.
