A Pressure Cooker: The Reality of Raising Children in Hong Kong

Sep 19
6 min read

Hong Kong, SAR – Parents in Hong Kong continue to navigate a complex and demanding landscape, with the years since 2022 highlighting significant and evolving "pain points." The journey of parenthood is fraught with challenges that begin during pregnancy and the postpartum period and extend throughout a child's upbringing. A confluence of intense educational pressure, significant financial burdens, pervasive mental health strain, and an ongoing struggle for work-life balance defines the contemporary parenting experience in the city. This report details the primary areas of difficulty, drawing on sources and studies published after 2022 to provide a current snapshot of the challenges faced by parents.

I. The Fourth Trimester and Beyond: Pregnancy and Postpartum Hardships

The difficulties for parents in Hong Kong begin well before their child enters the competitive school system. The pregnancy and postpartum periods are marked by significant mental, physical, and financial challenges.

Maternal Mental Health: A Silent Crisis

Postnatal depression is a severe and common issue, with approximately 30% of new mothers in Hong Kong experiencing it—a rate significantly higher than the global average of 18%. [1][2] Tragic incidents, such as a suspected case of severe postpartum depression leading to a family tragedy in Lohas Park in June 2024, have brought the urgency of this issue into sharp focus. [3] Government statistics show that in 2022 and 2023, thousands of mothers were identified with emotional problems or were at risk for postpartum depression, though these numbers are believed to underestimate the true scale of the problem due to social stigma and lack of awareness. [3]

The causes are multifaceted, stemming from drastic hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, the stress of physical recovery, and overwhelming childcare responsibilities. [3][4] Factors such as a history of mental health issues, lack of social support, financial pressure, and difficult birth experiences further increase the risk. [4] While support from a spouse and the mother's own parents can be protective, poor marital relationships and conflict with in-laws are correlated with higher stress and depression. [5][6]

A positive policy development has been the extension of statutory paid maternity leave from 10 to 14 weeks in December 2020. A 2024 study by the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) found this was associated with a 22% decrease in postnatal depressive symptoms and a 33% reduction in mothers reporting that their emotional well-being interfered with childcare. [1][7] Despite this improvement, researchers caution that maternal mental health remains a major concern, with a third of participants in their post-policy sample still showing signs of probable postnatal depression. [1][8]

Workplace Discrimination and Financial Burdens

Pregnancy discrimination remains a persistent issue in the Hong Kong workplace. Between 2020 and 2022, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) received 223 complaints related to pregnancy discrimination, accounting for 23% of all complaints under the Sex Discrimination Ordinance. [9][10] These cases often involve unfair treatment, being passed over for promotion, or unlawful dismissal shortly after announcing a pregnancy or upon returning from maternity leave. [11] In a landmark case in August 2023, the District Court awarded over HK$920,000 to a woman who was discriminated against by her employer due to her pregnancy, sending a strong message to employers. [9][10]

The postpartum period also comes with significant financial costs. The traditional practice of "pui yuet" (陪月), or hiring a confinement nanny for the first month after birth, is a major expense. In 2024, the cost for a confinement nanny can range from HK$20,000 to HK$40,000 for daytime services and up to HK$70,000 for live-in help, a considerable investment for new parents. [12][13]

II. Mental and Emotional Well-being: A System Under Strain

The considerable toll that parenting in Hong Kong takes on mental health extends beyond the postpartum period. Parents report high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, issues that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to linger.

A comprehensive four-generation mental health study released in 2025 (surveying 2023-2024 data) found that across the population, 22% of respondents experienced stress, 21% anxiety, and 17% depression. The pressure is significantly amplified for those parenting children with special educational needs (SEN). A 2021 family survey highlighted that many parents of SEN children feel helpless and suffer from tremendous stress with little social support.

A 2023 survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) revealed that while 24.4% of children and adolescents experienced a mental health issue, nearly half of their caregivers were unwilling to seek professional help. This points to a potential gap in addressing these intertwined family mental health crises, which is compounded by long waiting times of up to 99 weeks for public mental health services. [14]

III. The Educational Crucible: An Unrelenting Pressure Cooker

The hyper-competitive academic environment in Hong Kong remains a primary source of stress for parents. The pressure to ensure children achieve academic excellence is a significant contributor to parental anxiety and family conflict. The COVID-19 school suspensions not only disrupted learning but also intensified family pressures and negatively affected relationships.

The phenomenon of "overparenting"—being extremely protective and desperate for children's success—is noted as increasingly common, driven by the city's competitive atmosphere. Many parents create detailed plans for their children's development and have zero tolerance for failure, which can inhibit a child's own development of self-care abilities. This intense focus on academics is a major source of psychological distress for students and, by extension, their parents.

IV. The Financial Squeeze: High Costs and Economic Insecurity

The financial burden of raising a child in Hong Kong is a profound and persistent pain point. The decision to have children is heavily influenced by economic realities, with many viewing it as an "不划算" (unprofitable) choice in a neoliberal society. The city's notoriously expensive property market is a major factor, making it difficult for families to secure adequate living space.

The government has acknowledged these financial pressures by introducing measures such as a HK$20,000 newborn baby bonus and enhanced child tax allowances. In the 2025-26 budget, the tax deduction for newborns was doubled to HK$260,000 over two years. However, many believe these fiscal stimuli are insufficient to counteract the deep-seated demographic trends, as child-rearing is a decades-long commitment of time, space, and emotional energy.

Family income level is a strong predictor of overall family well-being. A 2022 survey showed that low-income families experienced the largest drops in well-being, with the pandemic widening the gap between high- and low-income households. Economic hardship is directly linked to increased parental stress and a greater risk of harsh parenting.

V. Work-Life Imbalance and Inadequate Support Systems

Juggling work and childcare is a major challenge, particularly for single parents and dual-career families. A 2023 survey of 336 single parents found that nearly 90% could not balance work with childcare responsibilities. Many reported that employers were unwilling to hire them or offer the flexible working arrangements necessary for them to manage their dual roles. This leaves many single-parent families in a state of financial insecurity and emotional distress.

The government has responded by expanding after-school care services and increasing subsidized childcare places. The latest policy address aims to add approximately 1,500 places in day nurseries for children aged 0-3 over the next three years. Despite these efforts, the demand for affordable and accessible childcare continues to be a significant hurdle for working parents. The reliance on foreign domestic helpers is also a source of stress, with issues like abrupt resignations and exploitation by agencies causing significant disruption and emotional distress for families.

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, parents in Hong Kong after 2022 are contending with a multifaceted array of challenges that span the entire journey of parenthood. From the anxieties of pregnancy, the high rates of postpartum depression, and workplace discrimination, the strain begins early. It is then compounded by the intense pressure from the education system and the high cost of living, creating a foundation of stress that is amplified by a lack of adequate work-life balance and accessible mental health support. While government initiatives aim to alleviate some of the financial and childcare burdens, the deeper, more systemic issues of competition, cost, and care continue to define the difficult reality of raising a family in one of the world's most demanding cities.

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