(Updated) Guide to Breastfeeding in Hong Kong 2023

Picture yourself in a rocking chair holding your new baby close to your chest, providing your sweet little one with warmth, comfort and the best possible nutrition. Breastfeeding is a treasured bonding time where you get to know and nourish your baby.

Hong Kong has made great strides in maternity rights and implemented a support network for new breastfeeding mothers in the city. The ongoing efforts to promote breastfeeding both by encouraging progressive hospital practices, as well as promoting breastfeeding-friendly workplaces have brought results over recent years. In 2019, the breastfeeding rate in Hong Kong has reached an all-time high of 87.2% in public and private hospitals combined ^[1].

There are many advantages of breastfeeding for moms and babies. While some women around the world encounter obstacles to breastfeeding, mothers in Hong Kong can breastfeed as a fundamental human right. This article will discuss the benefits of breastfeeding, the obstacles mothers may encounter, and the articles that protect Hong Kong mothers who breastfeed.

The Importance of Breastfeeding

In addition to reducing rates of breast, uterine, cervical and ovarian cancer in mothers, breastfeeding provides many advantages to both the physical and emotional health of the baby.

According to a 2016 study, breastfeeding benefits are long-lasting. Adults who were breastfed as babies:

scored lower in psychological traits like neuroticism, anxiety, and hostility, and
scored higher in openness and optimism than those not breastfed ^[2].

Breast milk contains antibodies that fight viruses and bacteria, reducing the occurrence of common issues like:

Ear infections
Respiratory infections
Viruses
Allergies
Gastrointestinal disorders
Diabetes
Certain childhood cancers

Is Breastfeeding Legal in Hong Kong?

Although breastfeeding in public is a subject of cultural controversy, public breastfeeding is entirely legal in the city.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) came into force in Hong Kong in 1994. The document preserves your baby’s rights to growth and development (Article 6), and the highest achievable standard of health (Article 24). This means that the government has the duty of educating parents about the benefits of breastfeeding, and of providing families with breastfeeding support.

Challenges of Breastfeeding in Hong Kong

Although the Department of Health introduced supportive breastfeeding initiatives that led to the increase of breastfeeding mothers in 2015 (up to 89% of mothers in Hong Kong), many mothers give up the practice within just a few months. There are a few reasons for this.

#1: Workplace Responsibilities

The main reason women stop breastfeeding in the first three months after birth is due to the responsibilities of work ^[3]. Maternity leave in the city usually lasts for 14 weeks ^[4] and flexible working arrangements are hard to negotiate with many employers.

Since 2015, the Hong Kong government has been trying to fight discrimination. The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) encouraged government and private facilities to implement “breastfeeding-friendly workplace” policies and measures to facilitate new moms to continue breastfeeding after their return to work ^[5]. In addition, the Department of Health has issued guidelines for employers who wish to establish a breastfeeding-friendly workplace ^[6].

On June 11th, 2020 the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) passed an amendment together with the Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018 in the Legislative Council ^[7]. The amendment commenced on 19th June 2021 and effectively makes it illegal to discriminate against breastfeeding women in the workplace.

#2: The Use of Infant Formula in Hospitals

Secondly, the sale of infant formula has become a multi-billion dollar business and thus, the marketing has gotten more and more aggressive through the years ^[8]. Paired with the difficulties, such as pain during breastfeeding, an inadequate latch or milk transfer, many mothers have opted to use formula instead.

However, the promotion of substituting breast milk with formula in Hong Kong hospitals is slowing down significantly. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association (BFHI) has established Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, and the results have been positive with 88% of public and 64% of private hospitals in 2019 not offering any food or drink other than breastmilk to breastfed babies unless medically indicated ^[1].

Learn more about what is in Breast Milk and what foods to avoid when breastfeeding. You can view download the full infographic here.

#3: Social Discrimination

Finally, as we mentioned previously, breastfeeding in public is still considered taboo. According to UNICEF, more than 80 per cent of breastfeeding Hong Kong mothers have fed their babies in public, and 40 per cent of them have encountered uncomfortable situations ^[9].

While breastfeeding in public is legal, many women struggle with this negative treatment. In 2016, 100 mothers gathered in the city to protest the stigma of breastfeeding in Hong Kong. The mothers breastfed their babies out in public at Tai Wai train station ^[10]. These mothers passionately feel that breastfeeding is seen as a healthy, normal part of daily life.

In 2020, we have seen the COVID-19 pandemic affect the lives of many, breastfeeding mothers alike. In April last year, breastfeeding women of Hong Kong united to help a mother diagnosed with the virus by donating their own breast milk for the baby who could not consume their mother’s milk ^[11].

How OT&P Supports Breastfeeding Women

Whether you’re expecting or have already welcomed your little one into the world, OT&P has a variety of services to support you in providing the best nutrition for your baby.

Our antenatal classes provide breastfeeding preparation for expectant parents, along with childbirth education and prenatal classes between 26 and 30 weeks. We also teach breastfeeding skills and provide support in the postnatal period through clinic consultations, phone/video calls, or the open mum & baby walk-in clinic.

Besides that, we tailor home visits according to your family’s needs and help you prevent common breastfeeding issues like:

Breast pain or mastitis
Feeding positions
Review infant latch
Breastfeeding frequency and duration
How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk

You can choose whatever option works best for your growing family. Having direct access to midwives will allow you to have constant breastfeeding support, so you can give your baby the best start in life.

References

Unicef Hong Kong, & Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. (2020). World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 1-7 August 2020 Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet. Retrieved January, 2021, from https://www.babyfriendly.org.hk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-WBW-Annual-Survey_E_Final.pdf
Sutin, A. R., Stephan, Y., & Terracciano, A. (2016). Breastfeeding and Adult Personality. European Journal of Personality, 30(5), 484-491. doi:10.1002/per.2030
Hong Kong Department of Health. (2016). Public Perception Survey on Breastfeeding. Retrieved January, 2021, from https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/archive/files/reports/public_perception_survey_on_breastfeeding(eng)_final.pdf
Hong Kong Labour Department. (2020). The Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/news/EAO2020.htm
Government strives to promote support for breastfeeding among different sectors of the community and the general public. (n.d.). Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201612/06/P2016120600935.htm
Family Health Service. (2017). Employers' Guide - to Establishing Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/breastfeeding/30031.html
Equal Opportunities Commission. (2020). .EOC Welcomes Passage of Discrimination Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2018. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.eoc.org.hk/eoc/graphicsfolder/ShowContent.aspx?ItemID=16733
Chan, S., PhD, MPH, MEd, RN, RSCN, FAAN, FFPH, JP. (2014). Optimising Breastfeeding Practices: A Public Health’s Perspective. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www3.ha.org.hk/haconvention/hac2014/proceedings/downloads/S2.1.pdf
40 per cent of breastfeeding mothers are being discriminated, survey showsUNICEF HK, in partnership with the Government, launches 'Breastfeeding Friendly Mall' ahead of Mother's Day. (2019, November 29). Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.unicef.org.hk/en/40-per-cent-of-breastfeeding-mothers-are-being-discriminated-survey-showsunicef-hk-in-partnership-with-the-government-launches-breastfeeding-friendly-mall-ahead-of-mother/
Daily Mail (2016, May 07). Hong Kong mothers stage BREASTFEEDING flashmob at Metro station to protest discrimination. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3578444/Lactivists-Hundreds-mothers-stage-BREASTFEEDING-flashmob-Hong-Kong-station-protest-discrimination.html
Hong Kong Free Press. (2020, April 27). Moms in Hong Kong rally to donate vital breastmilk during Covid-19. Retrieved January 06, 2021, from https://hongkongfp.com/2020/04/27/moms-rally-to-donate-vital-breastmilk-in-hong-kong-during-covid-19/