NUMBER OF THE DAY
This is how much capital Trip.com co-founder James Liang is putting up to counter China’s falling birth rates.
👶 Cash for PhD parents: Full-time PhD students in Hong Kong whose children are born on or after January 1, 2026, will receive a ~US$ 6,500 subsidy for childcare and education. Target group: highly educated young academics squeezed between career pressure, low income, and high childcare costs.
🎭 Culture over crisis talk: Beyond direct support for parents, the 500 million RMB fund backs “fertility-friendly” cultural and arts projects with up to HKD 1 million per initiative and is setting up a global university forum on declining birth rates.
Watch: If financial incentives for top talent, a shift in social attitudes, and academic networks show measurable impact, the model could be exported to mainland megacities.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
