Hongkongers are giving birth to fewer children than their parents did 30 years ago, a newly released survey by the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong says.

And many of those interviewed also said they were waiting several years after getting married to have children.

The group said "economic burden" was people's main concern in not yet wanting to have children, but the association is advising couples to make birth plans early. That includes taking into consideration not only finances, but the joy and satisfaction children bring.

Between December and April, the association conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,510 women aged 15-49 and 770 of their spouses.

About 80 percent of the interviewees did not want to give birth at all or again.

"A low fertility rate will result in an aging population, a low working population, and it affects economic development,"the association's subcommittee chairman, Paul Yip, said.

Half of the respondents said it was most ideal to have two children, but half of those who have three or more kids said the actual situation was not ideal, according to Siu Yat-ming, a member of the association's research subcommittee.

When asked about good incentives to convince them to have children, many interviewees cited, among other things, a higher child tax allowance, a nursery allowance, an extension of statutory maternal leave, maternal leave for spouses and free education.

"People today link their birth plans to economic considerations, and they want actual financial assistance from the government," Yip said. "But, as surveyed, the government incentives are more appealing to those who have no children or just one child at present, and it is harder to convince those who have two kids to have three."

(HK Edition 11/05/2008 page1)