Hong Kong charity calls for foster carers from diverse backgrounds to ease backlog

Hundreds of vulnerable children in Hong Kong are waiting for temporary homes, with a local charity urging more households from diverse backgrounds to step forward as demand for foster placements continues to outstrip supply.

Mother’s Choice said 222 children remained on the official waiting list for placement, adding that single carers now make up nearly 10 per cent of foster parents in its Project Bridge programme, while the rest are married or same-sex couples.

The charity, which supports young mothers aged 12 to 25 and their children, said fostering should not be seen as limited to traditional family structures, as it seeks to expand its pool of carers.

Hong Kong’s foster care system has long faced a backlog, government figures show. While the number of registered foster families rose 16.6 per cent over five years to 1,112, the average waiting time for children has increased from 1.66 months in 2021–22 to 1.95 months.

Mother’s Choice operates a conventional foster care service funded by the Social Welfare Department but launched Project Bridge in 2016 as an alternative programme to expand placements for children on the waiting list.

Marking its 10th anniversary, the self-financed project has recruited 111 foster families and supported 141 children, providing temporary homes and early intervention for those aged up to six awaiting adoption or family reunification.