Hong Kong urged to draw on overseas models in supporting ‘meaningful’ retirements
Foundation urges shift from ‘reactive’ elderly care, citing Canada and Japan as models for helping retirees live better, not just longer, lives
Hong Kong authorities should look to overseas jurisdictions such as Canada and Japan for policies that can help the city’s elderly lead more meaningful lives in retirement, a local think tank has said, describing current measures as too “reactive”.
In a new report released on Thursday, Our Hong Kong Foundation also called for greater age inclusiveness in the private sector, noting that most support for retirees currently came from public or government-subsidised groups.
“Although retired adults in Hong Kong are living longer, they are not necessarily living healthier or happier,” the think tank said.
“We propose a vision where retired adults are financially secure, connected to their communities and empowered to contribute. This requires a collaborative, multi-actor effort to provide a full spectrum of services that meet diverse needs.”
As Hong Kong continues to grapple with a rapidly ageing population, the government has introduced support measures for the elderly while also seeking to tap into the so-called silver economy.
In his latest policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged to allocate HK$500 million (US$64.2 million) annually in recurrent expenditure to support carers.