Family support

A spate of social issues in Hong Kong are threatening to weaken family harmony. As they are not isolated but intertwined problems, it takes multi-faceted solutions and collective efforts to foster change and promote family well-being.

Reinforce family harmony

The overall well-being of families in Hong Kong has shown signs of decline in recent years. Changes find expression in various concerning trends: rising divorce rates and poverty in single-parent families, to name just a few.

A survey in 2024 found the happiness level for Hong Kong families has dropped consecutively for four years, from 7.2 out of 10 in 2021 to 6.4 in 2024. Meanwhile, the number of couples filing for divorce hit a three-year high in 2023, and about 25% of single-parent families receive social security assistance.

Further, domestic violence crimes surged 9.5% year-on-year in 2023 after the pandemic. Child abuse is also on the rise, with the majority of cases involving family members.

Family harmony can be undermined by fast-paced lives, inadequate communication, financial woes, health problems, stressful life events and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative impact on society can be far-reaching and it takes concerted efforts to foster positive change and promote family well-being.

Aware that family is the cornerstone of society, The Hong Kong Jockey Club extends its reach to different areas to alleviate social problems and promote domestic harmony. We support a broad range of organisations to improve parent-children relationships, encourage families to expand their social support network, strengthen family capacities to face adversity and help disadvantaged families develop a sustainable livelihood. We also facilitate family therapy research. Together with our partners, we will continue to strive for a culture of loving families.