Fong, a 28-year-old Hong Kong resident, wants to have a child with his wife, but he knows the couple cannot afford one at this stage.
He earns about HK$10,000 (US$1,275) a month as a construction worker and lives in a subdivided flat in Prince Edward, paying roughly HK$3,000 a month for a 100 sq ft space. His 27-year-old wife, who is from mainland China, remains in Guangdong province while waiting for a one-way permit that would allow her to join him in Hong Kong.
With irregular working hours and unstable income, Fong said he has struggled to cover daily expenses. For now, the cost of raising a child in one of the world’s most expensive cities is a burden the couple cannot take on.
“If you bring a child into the world, you have to raise them. It’s not something to be taken lightly,” he said.
“It requires real commitment and a good environment for the child to grow up in.”
Fong is among thousands of Hong Kong residents choosing not to have children, a trend reflected in the city’s record-low birth rate. Many are weighing financial pressures, housing constraints, concerns about education and the lifestyle sacrifices involved in starting a family.
