Opinion | Lifting embryo storage restriction a good first step for Hong Kong

Bravo to the lawmakers for their hard work in pushing for the lifting of restrictions for the storage of gametes or embryos for personal use for Hong Kong residents. Their hard work has come to fruition.

Last week, the Council on Human Reproductive Technology formally proposed that Hongkongers should be allowed to store embryos for as long as they want, regardless of the age, sex or medical conditions of the residents. The same day, it launched a month-long public consultation on the matter.

It has been a long and hard struggle. Convincing the government to lift restrictions on storage duration has been difficult given its view that doing so would encourage further delays to child-bearing decisions, which goes against the government’s desire to encourage having children at an earlier age.
However, the array of factors that influence family planning makes capping storage duration to encourage women to have children an ineffective approach. For example, given the rising median age for first marriage in Hong Kong – it reached 31 for women and 32.6 for men last year – pushing for earlier childbearing could be counterproductive.

All credit goes to the lawmakers who kept pushing for this change. It’s a small but significant move in the right direction.

Among those fighting for the change is Nixie Lam Lam, who opted for assisted reproduction to have her child in 2023. Her personal story provides a fuller picture of the experience of couples using assisted-fertility treatments. It also points to the need for more to be done.
Lawmaker Nixie Lam (centre), seen here attending the chief executive’s policy address on October 16, 2024 alongside her colleagues, has been a vocal advocate for government support for Hongkongers who use assisted reproductive technology. Photo: Eugene Lee
Lawmaker Nixie Lam (centre), seen here attending the chief executive’s policy address on October 16, 2024 alongside her colleagues, has been a vocal advocate for government support for Hongkongers who use assisted reproductive technology. Photo: Eugene Lee

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

9 arrested over fatal triad gang brawl in Hong Kong

9 arrested over fatal triad gang brawl in Hong Kong

Nine individuals with suspected triad backgrounds have been arrested by Hong Kong police following a violent brawl over a debt that left a 68-year-old participant dead. The group comprising five men and four women aged between 27 and 44 were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and affray. They were still being detained for questioning on

Future of 8,300 public flats in northern Hong Kong uncertain as work put on hold

Future of 8,300 public flats in northern Hong Kong uncertain as work put on hold

Hong Kong’s housing authorities have suspended a 8,300 public flat development in a northern town due to the suspected high costs of building on deep rock strata, a move lawmakers said showed serious failure at the initial planning stage. The legislators urged authorities on Sunday to invest more resources in land exploration to avoid such

Hong Kong police start issuing digital parking fines, but some drivers puzzled

Hong Kong police start issuing digital parking fines, but some drivers puzzled

Hong Kong police have begun issuing electronic fines for parking and traffic offences, with some drivers calling for increased publicity over the measure and a longer transition period. The digital system began operation on Sunday, allowing penalty tickets to be delivered via SMS or email. Drivers can review the fines on a new website and

Hong Kong teens held over swindling elderly woman out of HK$50,000 in phone scam

Hong Kong teens held over swindling elderly woman out of HK$50,000 in phone scam

Hong Kong police have arrested a 16-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man in connection with a phone scam that swindled an 85-year-old woman out of HK$50,000 (US$6,369) by pretending to be her daughter and falsely claiming to require bail money. The force said on Sunday that the victim reported the incident on Friday. After receiving

Opinion | How a ‘Harvard International’ could boost Hong Kong as an education hub

Opinion | How a ‘Harvard International’ could boost Hong Kong as an education hub

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has invited international students worried about finishing their courses at Harvard University in the US to continue their studies at one of Hong Kong’s universities. Other universities in Malaysia and Japan have put forward similar suggestions. This comes as Hong Kong is considering how to make best use of the

Hong Kong, Singaporean police team up to smash cross-border scam syndicate

Hong Kong, Singaporean police team up to smash cross-border scam syndicate

Hong Kong and Singaporean police have teamed up to smash a cross-border syndicate suspected of spending about HK$18 million (US$2.3 million) to buy prepaid SIM cards for running phone scams. Over in Hong Kong, a police raid on seven offices led to the arrest of four local men, aged 23 to 48, with officers also

New stablecoin law to enhance Hong Kong’s financial appeal to global issuers: Chan

New stablecoin law to enhance Hong Kong’s financial appeal to global issuers: Chan

The expected increase in market demand for stablecoins will encourage licensed institutions overseas to issue such cryptocurrencies in Hong Kong, boosting competitiveness, according to the city’s financial chief as it prepares for its regulatory regime to take effect in August. In his weekly blog on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said that the city

Hong Kong trade body plans 2026 conference to entice Gulf states

Hong Kong trade body plans 2026 conference to entice Gulf states

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) plans to host a conference next year to foster collaboration with Gulf states, the body’s new head has said, adding that US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable policies could result in further changes to its export projections. Frederick Ma Si-hang, who took office on June 1, also said on

Opinion | No way should Hong Kong bail out taxi licence holders

Opinion | No way should Hong Kong bail out taxi licence holders

What do you get when you mix outdated regulation, asset bubbles and an on-demand economy? In Hong Kong’s case, a taxi system on life support – clinging to the hope of million-dollar medallions (taxi licences) while app-based ride-hailing services quietly reshape the market. The government has finally committed to regulating these ride-hailing platforms, promising a

Grand relaunch of Hong Kong club marred by police raid, money laundering arrest

Grand relaunch of Hong Kong club marred by police raid, money laundering arrest

The grand relaunch of a famous Hong Kong nightclub on Saturday night was marred by a police raid that saw at least one person arrested on suspicion of money laundering. Police and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department officers raided Big Boss Generation (BBG) in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10pm that night, just hours after

Hong Kong’s John Lee marks Father’s Day by sharing picture of grandson

Hong Kong’s John Lee marks Father’s Day by sharing picture of grandson

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu marked Father’s Day this year by sharing a photo on social media of himself with his grandson. Lee’s photo shows the city leader wearing a cap and a polo shirt as he warmly greets his grandson and has the caption: “From father to father’s father, paying tribute to

Big Boss Generation reopening night marred by police raid and money laundering arrest

Big Boss Generation reopening night marred by police raid and money laundering arrest

15th June 2025 – (Hong Kong) On its reopening night, Big Boss Generation (BBG), a transformed multi-functional entertainment venue at the site of the former Big Boss nightclub in Tsim Sha Tsui, became the focus of a coordinated police operation. Law enforcement officers, alongside Food and Environmental Hygiene Department officials, conducted

Hong Kong wants an ecotourism boom, but can its parks handle more visitors?

Hong Kong wants an ecotourism boom, but can its parks handle more visitors?

Amy Zhang is dressed in full sportswear, with sunglasses and a lightweight hiking backpack. She is one of many visiting Hong Kong’s Dragon’s Back following the social media craze in mainland China over “in-depth travels” in the city. “The beautiful merging horizon and skyline make good photos for my friend circle on WeChat and RedNote,”

Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 signal to stay in place for early afternoon

Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T3 signal to stay in place for early afternoon

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. A No 3 typhoon warning will remain in force in Hong Kong throughout the early afternoon on Sunday, with local winds expected

Daddy cool: how Hong Kong fathers are building ‘unforgettable’ bonds with kids

Daddy cool: how Hong Kong fathers are building ‘unforgettable’ bonds with kids

Younger generations of Hong Kong dads are increasingly eager to engage more with their children, but often face challenges due to limited time and parenting skills, an NGO has said ahead of Father’s Day on Sunday. Allen Ha Wing-on, co-founder of the DADs Network, said that traditional expectations and busy schedules posed obstacles for local

Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

Group tour prices from Hong Kong drop 10% as tourists opt for alternatives to Japan

Hong Kong travel agencies have launched cheaper outbound group tours this summer, driven by increased flight capacity amid a shift in tourists’ preference away from Japan due to increased earthquake concerns. Several tour operators have reported that prices for their summer group tours are either lower or have remained stable, adding that popular destinations include

Commissioner of Police Joe Chow has said threats such as home-grown terrorism and soft resistance still remain. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong police chief vows vigilance against lingering national security threats

Hong Kong’s police chief has pledged vigilance against lingering threats of external interference, home-grown terrorism and “soft resistance”, five years after the Beijing-imposed national security law was promulgated. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said that while Hong Kong had returned to a state of stability in recent years, “undercurrents” remained that required the force

Should Hong Kong hit Redhill Peninsula homeowners with heavier fines for illegal works?

Should Hong Kong hit Redhill Peninsula homeowners with heavier fines for illegal works?

Hong Kong authorities should appeal against the “light” penalties imposed on two property owners for erecting illegal structures at their luxury Redhill Peninsula homes, experts have said, warning that the fines are not hefty enough to deter offenders. The specialists weighed in after the two property owners were told to pay more than HK$110,000 (US$14,015)

2025 National Games: real-name ticket system may be used, Hong Kong office says

2025 National Games: real-name ticket system may be used, Hong Kong office says

Hong Kong’s coordination office for the National Games is studying whether to adopt a real-name system for tickets at prices ranging from a few dozen Hong Kong dollars up to about HK$500 (US$64). Yeung Tak-keung, head of the National Games Coordination Office, said on Saturday that tickets would be sold from August on a unified

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x