Task Force Reports on Population Policy

The Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, Mr Donald Tsang, released the Report of the Task Force on Population Policy on February 26.

Addressing the HKSAR Legislative Council, Mr Tsang said: “The Task Force considers the primary objective of the population policy is to nurture a population that can sustain Hong Kong’s long-term economic and social development.”

After a 6-month in-depth analysis of Hong Kong’s demographic characteristics, and the major challenges and concerns arising from those trends, the Task Force made a number of policy recommendations.

In the area of population aging and low fertility, the Task Force recommended:
• changing the current tax system to grant the same level of tax deduction for all children in a family, regardless of number
• promoting family reunion with strict enforcement of the present daily allocation of 60 children with right of abode in Hong Kong
• looking ahead to find feasible way to develop a sustainable financial support system for the needy elderly

The Task Force also introduced measures to improve population quality. These include:
• continuing to provide education, training and skills upgrading programmes to new arrivals
• relaxing admission of Mainland professionals and talent and attracting more Mainland businessmen to set up business in Hong Kong
• attracting Mainland talent from fields such as the arts and sports, to build diversity
• relaxing the current policy to allow immigrants who wish to invest in Hong Kong but who do not wish to run a business

In the area of integration and long-term sustainability, the Task Force recommended:
• applying a levy of HK$400 a month to employers of foreign domestic workers
• applying a uniform 7-year residence rule for provision of all heavily subsidized social services and public health and hospital benefits

Mr Tsang noted that demographic conditions are affected by many factors beyond the Government’s control. “There are market forces in action,” he said, “and we have to respect the choices individuals make.”

He pointed out that, given Hong Kong’s continuing integration with the Pearl River Delta, continuing review of the population policy is essential.

“The publication of this Report denotes not the end, but rather the beginning of a mammoth task,” summed up Mr Tsang. He called on Members of the HKSAR Legislative Council and the community to support this important exercise.

The full text of the Report of the Task Force on Population Policy is available at the HKSAR Government website at http:///www.info.gov.hk/info/population/.

 

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