Lawmaker Wants Government to Display More Photos of Cute Babies in Official Buildings to Convince Workers to Go Home and Procreate

A Hong Kong lawmaker has encouraged the government to place images of babies around public offices in order to encourage more public officials and civil servants to have children.

A Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker, Bill Tang, stated that the addition of baby photos within work places would create an "atmosphere" encouraging of parenthood by reminding government workers that "babies are cute" and resemble "mini" versions of their parents, according to Hong Kong Free Press.

"[C]ould the government add more baby photos as decorations for all offices? So that civil servants can see babies when they go to work, which will stop them from wanting to work overtime and instead go home to be with their wives," Tang said in Cantonese, translated to English.

The suggestion was called "very innovative" by Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare Jonathan Ho Kai-ming, who also agreed to request more baby photos for display in a discussion with the Civil Service Bureau.

In 2022, data released by the World Bank indicated that Hong Kong had one of the lowest birthrates in the world, with only 4.4 per 1,000 people.