Siddharth Chatterjee, who served as the UN resident coordinator in China from 2021 until March 2024, has proposed a shift in how Hong Kong views its record-low fertility rate. Rather than framing the demographic decline solely as a crisis, Chatterjee suggests it presents an opportunity for the city to redefine its urban environment. He advocates for Hong Kong to pursue the 'Child Friendly City' status under a UN initiative, which would involve creating infrastructure and policies specifically designed to support the well-being and development of children.

Chatterjee contends that by prioritizing child-centric urban planning, Hong Kong could develop a 'pioneering blueprint' that other regions facing similar demographic shifts could emulate. The proposal emphasizes that a city designed to be inclusive and supportive of children inherently improves the quality of life for all residents. While the report acknowledges that many developing nations are grappling with the economic pressures of aging populations, Chatterjee’s perspective focuses on the potential for policy innovation rather than the immediate economic consequences of a shrinking workforce. The SCMP report notes that this approach would require significant investment in social infrastructure to transform the city's current landscape into a model for global urban development.