SINGAPOREAN FATHER HUGS HIS CHILD IN CENTRAL SINGAPORE, 2000-04-24 (photo)

A Singaporean father hugs his only child in central Singapore April 24. A high level committee recently formed by the Singapore government to look into reasons and attitudes holding Singaporeans back from marriage and childbirth, is now looking at new ways to encourage more couples to have more children. As more educated Singaporeans are tending to marry later and have less children, the Singapore government is worried that low fertility rates will affect the economic growth and long term prospects of the country. Another concern of the government is the increasing number of Singaporeans migrating overseas. ST/PB