Gov’t encourages lawmakers help with low birth rate

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has suggested younger lawmakers have more children to help with the falling birth rate.

Lawmaker Lei Chan U listed data from the government, showing the latest birth rate in Macau is 7.4 babies for every 1,000 people. There is a falling trajectory over the past few years. The Chief Executive recalled that when he stood in the Chief Executive Election in 2019, the birth rate was 9 in 1,000.

Admitting to the government’s lack of means to encourage people to give birth, the head of the government turned to younger lawmakers and encouraged them to make more babies.

“This is a relatively low figure,” he admitted, but claimed that there is not much the government can do to boost people’s desire to have babies. Nonetheless, he did pledge that the government would make plans in response to the development of the population change. “We will try our best to work accordingly,” he replied to Lei.

“This is a personal matter,” he said. “It’s not like giving people a flat will [entreat] them to give birth.”

The head of the government did not neglect the chance to reveal his very conventional view of life. “Simply put: after getting married, a couple should at least give birth to a couple of babies, so that they can be understood as balanced,” Ho said at the plenary, which was broadcast live on TV channels and online platforms, such as YouTube and Facebook.

Then he turned to the hall and started encouraging younger lawmakers to be “role models.” “Legislator Lei, you only have one child. You should make one more child,” Ho said with a smile. The meeting hall broke into laughter due to Ho’s comment.

Getting serious afterwards, Ho agreed that the scenario must be handled delicately. Not only is the birth rate becoming a concern, the city having an aging population makes the situation tougher when combined with the low birth rate.

“Younger generations should take up the responsibility,” Ho said, before slightly criticizing youths. “Many young people are willing to keep pets, but not raise children.”

He listed the free services in Macau to prove that raising children is not actually very difficult. “We have free-of-charge education from nursery to high school, as well as a high level of subsidy for university studies,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, he recapped that lawmaker Leong Sun Iok had previously said the lack of two-room apartments in subsidized housing projects discouraged people from having babies. “We’re studying the feasibility of more two-room apartments. But if at the end [of the day] the extra room is used to keep dogs, it will be a waste,” the Chief Executive remarked.

Many social critics have said that the lack of room for talent retention, among other factors, is the reason behind the low birth rate. The recent economic challenges arising from social restrictions may also be part of the reason.