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Hong Kong, 17 July 2026 — Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF HK) has submitted a series of policy recommendations for the First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address. The submission advocates for a comprehensive and forward-looking child policy designed to establish Hong Kong as an internationally recognized Child Friendly City, safeguarding children’s well-being and development while bolstering the city’s long-term resilience.

Integrating the "Child Friendly Cities Initiative" into the First Five-Year Plan

Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is a UNICEF-led initiative launched in 1996, with the aim to support cities and communities committed to fulfilling children's rights as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and to integrating young voices and needs into public policies, programmes, and decisions. More than 3,000 cities across 35 countries are currently participating in the CFCI. It is also featured in the Central Government’s "15th Five-Year Plan" to expand the scope and upgrade the quality of its child-friendly development across society, fostering an environment that deeply cares for the next generation.

To align with national policies and global trends, UNICEF HK proposes to include the "Child Friendly City" framework in the First Five-Year Plan, with the aim of Hong Kong becoming a UNICEF-recognized Child Friendly City by or before 2030, creating a safe, healthy, and opportunity-rich environment for the next generation. This will demonstrate Hong Kong's firm commitment to safeguarding children's rights and promoting sustainable development, consolidating its status as a leading international metropolis while strengthening exchange and cooperation within global city networks.

Three Pillars Proposed for 2026 Policy Address

Amid the challenges of demographic shifts and global digital transformation, a timely review of child policies is essential to ensure children are provided with comprehensive and forward-looking support. UNICEF HK calls on the Government to explicitly define its role as the primary duty-bearer for children's rights, with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) serving as the guiding policy framework. The recommendations are anchored in three core pillars: Family‑Friendly Policies Optimization, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Enhancement, and Strengthening Digital Protection Mechanisms. Key proposals under each pillar include the following:

Pillar One:  Family‑Friendly Policies Optimization

1. Legislate workplace breastfeeding rights, entitling employees to two 30-minute breaks (or equivalent) within an eight-hour workday for at least one year postpartum, along with appropriate private facilities.
2. Phase the extension of statutory paid maternity leave to at least 18 weeks and develop a long-term family leave blueprint aiming for a total of six months (including maternity, paternity, and parental leave) to promote shared parental responsibility.
3. Expand subsidized places at independent child care centres and day care services, particularly for children aged 0 to 3, with priority given to low-income and dual-income families. Promote public-private collaboration to encourage enterprises to establish on-site child care facilities or provide corporate-sponsored childcare.
4. Explore the establishment of a long-term child cash allowance scheme to complement the existing social safety net. Regular reviews of the minimum wage are vital to preserve the actual purchasing power of grassroots families, ensuring food security and early childhood health.

Pillar Two:  Child and Adolescent Mental Health Enhancement

1. Establish a cross-bureau dedicated fund. Strengthen and scale up professional training for child psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and social workers.
2. Implement responsive parenting education backed by a comprehensive public parenting support platform and promote the mental well-being of parents and caregivers.
3. Integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) education into the current curriculum. Create a positive and violence-free school environment, and enhance monitoring of the effectiveness of existing services.

Pillar Three:  Strengthening Digital Protection Mechanisms

1. Develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent and combat digital sexual exploitation and online violence, taking reference from the global framework established by the WeProtect Global Alliance.
2. Review and expand existing legislation to address emerging technological risks, including AI-generated imagery and deepfakes, and introduce child-friendly judicial procedures.
3. Legislate against the monetization of children's personal data for commercial profiling and targeted marketing, and prohibit manipulative user-interface designs like "dark patterns."
4. Establish specific protections for child influencers and young content creators, including working hour limits, income security, and earnings trusts, to prevent the commercial exploitation of children in the digital economy.
5. Incorporate digital and media literacy into the school curriculum, strengthen the content governance responsibilities of internet service providers and tech platforms, and provide ongoing digital risk management training for professionals working with children.

Investing in children is an investment in Hong Kong's future. At this critical juncture of demographic transition and a low fertility rate, placing children at the heart of public policy will strengthen Hong Kong’s human capital, social stability, and long-term competitiveness. UNICEF HK looks forward to seeing these recommendations incorporated into the First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address. Through structured coordination and collaboration between the government and key stakeholders, Hong Kong can cultivate a safer, more inclusive, and forward-looking urban environment, and become an international metropolis for child-friendliness and sustainable development in Asia and across the globe.