The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s 2026 Policy Address, together with the city’s first five-year plan, marks a significant and welcome commitment to placing children at the heart of Hong Kong’s future development. Taken together, these two documents reflect an understanding that investing in children is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic imperative for the city’s long-term prosperity and resilience.

For those of us who work closely with children and families, the Policy Address and the five-year plan signal a vision of Hong Kong as a truly child-friendly city, where every child can grow up safe, included and able to realize their full potential.

This commitment comes at a critical moment. Hong Kong’s fertility rate remains among the lowest in the world, well below replacement level, with annual births drifting toward historical lows. Young couples speak candidly about the obstacles they face, including housing costs, long working hours and limited childcare support, which can make starting a family feel less like a joy than a calculation. A declining birth rate is not merely a demographic challenge; it also reflects how confident people feel about the future and their ability to raise children in the city.

Against this backdrop, the government’s response is both practical and principled. The continued HK$30,000 ($3,822) payment for second and subsequent children, enhanced tax allowances of up to HK$160,000 for additional children during their first two years, as well as stamp duty relief and higher mortgage ratios for White Form buyers, help ease some of the financial pressures facing families. The introduction of three new subsidized independent childcare centers, the regularization of school-based afterschool care without quotas from the 2027/28 school year, strengthened escort services for pre-primary programs, and free pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal classes at district health centers further demonstrate a commitment to supporting parents throughout the parenting journey.

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Importantly, the significance of these measures extends beyond financial assistance. They create the breathing space needed for family life to flourish. UNICEF’s research consistently shows that strong childcare services and after-school support help reduce family stress and provide children with the stable and stimulating environments they need to thrive. When parents feel supported in balancing work and family responsibilities, the benefits extend far beyond individual households, contributing to stronger communities, a more productive economy and a more optimistic society.

As Hong Kong looks ahead through the lens of its first five-year plan, there is also an opportunity to further embed the concept of a child-friendly city into the city’s long-term development blueprint. More than 3,000 cities across over 40 countries already participate in UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative, improving daily life for tens of millions of children through safer streets, better play spaces, meaningful participation opportunities and stronger protection systems. Hong Kong is well positioned not only to join this global movement, but also to become a regional leader in advancing child-friendly urban development.

This is because a child-friendly city is not simply a designation to achieve. Rather, it is an approach to governance that asks a simple but powerful question of every policy decision: What does this mean for children?

The importance of this perspective is particularly evident in the digital age. Technology presents enormous opportunities for learning, innovation and connection, but it also exposes children to emerging risks. A recent UNICEF report, Through Children’s Eyes: How Digital Technologies Enable Child Sexual Abuse, indicates that children are adopting artificial intelligence more than three times faster than adults. In surveyed countries, millions already use AI for homework and personal advice, while UNICEF estimates that AI-generated sexual images have affected at least 1.2 million children in a single year across a limited group of countries. Across 21 countries, approximately one in five internet-using children aged 12 to 17 experienced some form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a recent year, often through familiar social media platforms.

In this context, the SAR government’s determination to strengthen AI risk governance, combat deepfakes and enhance protections for minors is both timely and necessary. UNICEF’s AI and Children Guidance (Version 3.0) provides a child-rights-based framework that emphasizes stronger regulation, platform accountability, privacy safeguards and the development of systems that place children’s best interests at the center. Coupled with accelerated reforms to sexual-offense legislation, mandatory reporting requirements and trauma-informed multidisciplinary responses, these efforts can help build a seamless system of prevention, reporting, protection and recovery.

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The Policy Address also rightly recognizes that young people should not be viewed merely as recipients of policy decisions, but as active partners in shaping Hong Kong’s future. The emphasis on aerospace innovation, science popularization and international exposure opens valuable opportunities for young people to broaden their horizons, contribute new ideas and develop the skills needed in an increasingly interconnected world.

Equally important is the role of the physical environment in children’s development and well-being. The continued expansion of Community Living Rooms will provide children living in subdivided units with access to appropriate spaces for learning, recreation and social interaction. Looking ahead, the implementation of the five-year plan offers an opportunity to incorporate child-friendly principles into public housing developments and urban renewal projects by prioritizing safety, accessibility, opportunities for play and stronger community connections. Space for children should be viewed not as a luxury, but as a developmental necessity.

The same long-term perspective applies to climate action. The government’s commitment to the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050 and the transition toward a circular economy will have profound implications for the generation that will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions. UNICEF’s The State of the World’s Children 2024 highlights that nearly 1 billion children already live in countries facing high climate and environmental risks. By the 2050s, eight times as many children could be exposed to extreme heatwaves compared with the early 2000s. As Hong Kong advances its climate agenda, meaningful youth participation will be essential in ensuring that environmental policies reflect the interests of future generations.

Ultimately, integrating children’s rights and well-being into the Policy Address and the city’s five-year plan is more than good governance. It is an intergenerational commitment that recognizes children as both the beneficiaries and future stewards of Hong Kong’s development. A truly child-centered approach creates the conditions for every young person to grow up in safety, inclusion and opportunity, empowered to realize their full potential.

A city is remembered not only for the skyline it builds, but also for the childhoods it protects.

UNICEF Hong Kong welcomes the direction set out in the 2026 Policy Address and the first five-year plan and looks forward to working alongside the government and partners across society to help turn these aspirations into lasting progress. With shared expertise, open dialogue and a collective determination to put children first, Hong Kong can become not only a great global city, but also a leading child-friendly city that future generations will look back on with pride and gratitude.

The author is chairman of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, and an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.