A number of organisations are involved with the health and well-being of children in Hong Kong. Here is an overview of the services and facilities available to families with young children in Hong Kong.

Below find information on:

Toddler Health

The Department of Health deals with the medical side of life including toddler health in Hong Kong. This is implemented via the Family Health Service, which oversees a whole range of requirements for babies and young children from birth to five years and women up to 64 years of age. A high standard of care is provided and Hong Kong is proud of its very low infant and maternal mortality rates.

The Service is physically operated through 31 Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) and 3 Woman Health Centres (WHCs). Immunisation, as well as health and developmental surveillance including physical examination, growth and developmental monitoring, and hearing and vision screening are available at these centres for babies and children.

• The current recommended immunisation programme for children is detailed on the Family Health Service website: Click here
• For more information on the Child Health Centres: Click here

For treatment of minor illnesses, families should visit their local doctor and for emergencies the nearest hospital.

Child Benefit and Other State Benefits

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is the Government body responsible for implementing social welfare policy and for developing and maintaining social welfare services. This includes social security benefits. These are not generous in Hong Kong but there are payments which aim to bring a household income up to a minimum prescribed level.

The Social Welfare Department also oversees various charitable funds for those in severe financial difficulty.

• For more information about applying: Click here

Childcare fees may be fully or partially reimbursed for families in difficulty. Again this is done via the SWD and application details can be found on the website.

• Social Welfare Department website 

Child benefit does exist in Hong Kong but it is part of the range of family benefits, and is not an automatic right when a child is born. The benefit is payable for children younger than age 15 (or up to 21 if in full-time education). To qualify for any benefit applicants are means tested on their income and assets. The income and assets of others in the household are also taken into consideration. It does not take a great deal of income or assets before benefit will be denied. Application should be made via the SWD by anyone who feels they may qualify.

Childcare and Pre-primary Education

Very small children are often cared for in the home either by parents or by a hired domestic helper, commonly referred to as a maid (amah). Because of the relatively low cost of hiring domestic help and the financial necessity of having two incomes many women quickly return to work.

Both kindergartens and childcare centres provide pre-primary education and care for children under six. Admission to kindergarten is allowed from age two years and eight months. Childcare centres include crèches, which typically look after infants from birth to two, and nurseries, catering for children aged two to six.

There is no direct passage from a kindergarten into a particular primary school – places must still be applied for via the Primary One Admission System.

• For more details see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Education and Schooling
• The Hong Kong Yellow Pages lists kindergartens and childcare centres
• Parents can also consult the Community Advice Bureau for information and help on a whole range of topics including childcare

Kindergartens

Kindergartens are privately run but all are registered with, and supervised by, the Education Bureau (EDB). See the website for a free parental booklet on kindergartens.

• Education Bureau website 

The Government provides assistance to kindergartens in the form of rent and rates reimbursement to non-profit-making kindergartens, purpose-built kindergarten premises in public housing estates, the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme, and the refund of fees to needy parents through the Kindergarten Fee Remission Scheme. In addition it provides training programmes for teachers and principals.

Demand for places can be high so some kindergartens have separate morning and afternoon classes in the same way some primary schools do. Others will cater for full-time working mothers with a whole-day service. While most kindergartens' academic calendars run from September to the end of June each year, it is common for them to continue into July or run summer camps.

Recently there has been a much stronger focus on providing high quality early years' education and staff must be properly trained. There are requirements for a minimum staff to pupil ratio. 

International Kindergartens

These are kindergartens aimed at non-Chinese speaking children in Hong Kong. The main difference between them and any other type of kindergarten is simply that instruction is in English.

These international kindergartens are often linked to a private primary school. All are fee-paying.

Childcare Centres

Childcare centres are regulated by the Social Welfare Department under the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.

Childcare centres provide full-day and half-day services for children aged three to six years. Typical opening hours are 08:00–18:00 Monday to Friday with shorter hours (08:00–13:00) on Saturdays. Some centres also offer additional weekday evening hours or extra hours on Saturdays. It is also possible to make use of these centres on a more ad hoc basis, for example, if parents have appointments and no one else is available.

• For full details from the SWD on how the childcare services work, plus details of fees and opening hours: Click here

The SWD website has a large number of downloadable advice leaflets and application forms for those interested in applying for childcare places. For low-income families some or all of the fees payable may be reimbursed. The Student Financial Assistance Agency website has information on the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme. 

Babysitters and Domestic Helpers

There are some more informal childcare arrangements available, such as women providing childcare for a small number of children in their homes. These are not often advertised but friends and colleagues may be able to recommend someone. The Community Advice Bureau can put mums in touch with childminding agencies. It is also possible to use the services of some midwifery agencies for babysitting and night-time cover for newborn babies.

There is not a great deal of casual babysitting on offer, although teenage children of other expatriate families may be prepared to help. It is more common to have hired full-time or part-time domestic help which may include an element of child-minding.

Agencies can provide staff, or friends and colleagues may have recommendations. As families come and go regularly in Hong Kong, supermarket notice boards and local papers often have adverts for people looking for this type of work. There is also a publication called Dollarsaver which has adverts for domestic help.

• For the legal requirements when hiring staff see the Labour Department website
• Also see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Employing Staff & Domestic Workers

Toddler Groups

There are many toddler groups in Hong Kong. For information on both home playgroups in a particular area, and a comprehensive list of formal playschools, contact The Pre-school Playgroups Association (HKPPA). The HKPPA runs playgroups and pre-schools at various locations in Hong Kong. Their facilities are open to children from 10 months to 6 years.

Many women's groups run mother and toddler groups. For example the American Women's Association (AWA) organises activities.

• For more details from the AWA: Click here

For listings of other groups, parents can also consult their Consulate for details. Note that many of these groups are for mum and baby and not for the hired domestic help and baby.

Magazines for Parents and Children

There are a number of magazines available for parents bringing up children in Hong Kong. These include:

• Parents Journal: Monthly bilingual magazine with information for parents in Hong Kong on a wide number of issues including health, pregnancy, child development and education
  • Tel: 2505 8906
    Fax: 2505 0815
• Playtimes: Published ten times a year, magazine with advice and guidance on many parenting issues such as the social, physical, intellectual and emotional development of children
• For children there are also magazines in English and a number of bilingual magazines, including the very popular Typhoon Club
• Daily 7 and Daily 10: English-language newspapers for children. Each edition has news items, vocabulary, weather forecast, cartoons and games. Published every day except Sunday, available by subscription only
  • To subscribe: Click here

Out and About With Toddlers

In spite of the population density and the small size of the place, Hong Kong does have open areas and parks for children to play in. Beaches and parks get very crowded at weekends and during school holidays.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department supervises parks and playgrounds as well as public swimming pools.

• The Hong Kong Park is just one of the Leisure and Cultural Services facilities and is very popular
• For other parks, see the Leisure and Cultural Services Department website: Click here
• Ocean Park has rides, an aquarium, plus a play section for smaller children
• Hong Kong also has a Disneyland

A number of museums provide play areas and interactive activities for young children.

• For extensive details see the Hong Kong Tourism Board website
• See also the Hong Kong with Kids website

Further Information

• Hong Kong in Brief: government website
• Hong Kong With Kids website for parents bringing up children in Hong Kong
• The AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Having a Baby in Hong Kong

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