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Hong Kong, 16 September 2026—The Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) welcomes the Government’s first Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Economic and Social Development First Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address. These outline a comprehensive approach to protecting, nurturing, developing and involving children and young people, demonstrating a deep commitment to children’s rights.

The Government is actively promoting fertility and has introduced a package of measures covering financial allowances, tax allowance, homeownership support, medical support, childcare services and after-school care. These measures help ease the financial burden and housing pressure on young families in the early stages of child-rearing. However, to truly address social concerns, restore young people’s confidence in having children and reverse the declining fertility rate, UNICEF HK believes that, beyond direct financial subsidies, embedding the “Child-Friendly City” concept into Hong Kong’s five-year planning blueprint is also crucial.

In response to the Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, UNICEF HK puts forward the following core responses and recommendations:

Affirming Family-Friendly Policies:

We are pleased to see the Government continue the HK$20,000 newborn baby bonus, increase the bonus for the second or subsequent child born to HK$30,000, raise the child allowance and additional allowance for the first two years to HK$160,000 for the second child and subsequent children, provide up to HK$20,000 in stamp duty waiver, and offer a maximum 95% mortgage loan‑to‑value ratio for White Form Home Ownership Scheme buyers. These measures effectively lower the threshold for young families to give birth, raise children, and buy homes, laying a solid foundation for children's healthy growth.

UNICEF HK also supports the Government’s plan to build three additional subsidised independent child care centres, and to regularise the School-based After School Care Service Scheme from the 2027/28 school year with no quota limit, while strengthening escort services for After School Care Programme for Pre-primary Children. Strong community childcare and after-school care services are the important reassurance that enables dual-income parents to “dare to have and raise children.” They also help relieve family caregiving pressure and create a favourable early development environment for children.

We further welcome the free pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal classes provided by District Health Centres, which comprehensively safeguard maternal and infant health.

Integrating Child Rights-Based AI Governance Measures to Strengthen Child Protection

UNICEF HK supports the Government’s efforts to strengthen risk governance of AI technology development, including measures to combat deepfake-related crimes and a series of enhanced protections for minors.

We recommend that, in formulating AI risk governance policies, the Government refer to UNICEF’s AI and Children Guidance (Version 3.0) released in 2025. Policies should be grounded in child rights-oriented principles, strengthen regulatory frameworks, accountability and compliance requirements for relevant online platforms, and ensure that children and young people enjoy comprehensive safeguards when using or coming into contact with artificial intelligence technologies.

At the same time, UNICEF HK hopes the Government will actively review sexual offences legislation and calls for accelerated implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Law Reform Commission. This should clearly strengthen legal protections for children and persons with mental disabilities against sexual assault, sexual exploitation and online grooming. Legal reform should be combined with a mandatory child abuse reporting mechanism to build a one-stop protection network of “prevention, reporting, protection and recovery.” Special crisis case video-recorded interviews and multi-disciplinary collaborative models should also be widely applied to minimise secondary trauma to child victims during legal proceedings.

Encouraging Multi-faceted Youth Development, Enhancing Skills Training and International Horizons

UNICEF HK welcomes the Government’s commitment to strengthening aerospace innovation, science popularisation and talent development to help Hong Kong youth develop diverse and future-oriented skills. We are dedicated to equipping children and young people with the skills they need to succeed in life. Without access to educational opportunities that develop these skills, children and youth will struggle to adapt to the developments and challenges of the 21st century, with far-reaching negative impacts on future generations. Digital skills and work-related skills are indispensable for children’s future development.

Regarding aerospace innovation education, this year’s UNICEF Youth Ambassador Programme included a study visit to Shenzhen, where participants visited the Green Aerospace Interstellar Space Technology Research Institute to learn about the space food, aerospace-themed handicrafts, educational programmes and experiential equipment developed by the institute.

We are also pleased to see the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau supporting young people in going international, strengthening cooperation with international organisations and providing opportunities for youth to participate in major international conferences. As the only United Nations agency dedicated solely to children’s issues, UNICEF HK hopes to deepen collaboration with the HKSAR Government in the future so that more local young people can learn about the operations of international organisations.

From Subsidised Housing Preferences to Child-Friendly Community Development

We support the Government in continuously expanding the coverage of "Community Living Rooms" to ensure that children living in inadequate housing (such as SDU households) can also enjoy adequate and equal learning and play spaces.

We also recommend that while providing subsidised housing preferences for young families, newly built residential developments and urban renewal projects in older districts should comprehensively adopt "Child-Friendly" design principles, for example including safety, accessibility, designability, and social interaction considerations.

Implementing the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050 and Promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals

UNICEF HK welcomes the Government's commitment to implementing the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050 to help Hong Kong achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. We are pleased to see the Government continuously optimising recycling networks in the circular economy and waste reduction/recycling sectors, promoting the recycling of food waste and other wastes.

UNICEF HK has long advocated for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) locally. Since 2023, we have launched the SDG Actioner Challenge for Ethnic Minority Youth Programme, enabling more youth to gain a deep understanding of SDG 13 "Climate Action". Echoing the theme of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, this year's programme focuses on "Building Sustainable Food Systems" and food waste recycling to promote low-carbon living among youth in communities and schools.

Additionally, since 2021, UNICEF HK has run the "SDGs Student Ambassadors eLearn Pilot Scheme," providing online classes and practical actions on SDGs to encourage self-directed learning, nurture youths as "SDGs Student Ambassadors," and contribute to the SDGs through action. In promoting zero-carbon energy, this year's UNICEF Young Envoys Programme visited waste-to-energy facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam and Longgang, Shenzhen, learning green power generation and clean energy knowledge. Looking ahead, UNICEF HK will continue to advocate for the SDGs locally and foster youth awareness and participation in global issues.

Integrating children's rights and needs into the HKSAR Government's long-term development blueprint marks an important milestone in Hong Kong's journey towards becoming an international child-friendly metropolis. We believe that child-centric urban planning and policymaking can empower every child to grow up in a safe, inclusive, and sustainable environment, enabling them to thrive fully realise their potential.

UNICEF HK looks forward to joining hands with the HKSAR Government, the Legislative Council, and all sectors of society, leveraging our professional expertise and bridging role to advancing child-friendly policies and fostering a safe, inclusive, and opportunity-filled environment for every child in Hong Kong.