bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fiona Sun

Hongkonger Shirley Chang, 82, plays pickleball regularly, takes a weekly class to learn Chinese ink painting and teaches her friends how to play bridge.
The former businesswoman, who lives with a domestic helper in the Mid-Levels, said she was enjoying her retirement years by staying healthy, maintaining an active lifestyle and searching for new experiences.
Chang said she took up pickleball last summer and now played it with her friends three times a week.
In the afternoon, she teaches bridge to her friends at home. A former member of the city’s team that competed in multiple tournaments, Chang said she had so far taught the card game to about 170 people.
She also started to learn Chinese ink painting last year. She said she was the oldest student in her class of a dozen people, most of whom were in their sixties or seventies.
Apart from her interest in sports and art, Chang meets friends regularly for meals or short trips. The divorcee also visits her two daughters, son and five grandchildren, all living overseas.
Chang said she spent HK$3,000 (US$386) to HK$4,000 per month on average on dining out, about HK$5,000 a month on her recreational club membership and a few thousand on her painting classes. She also paid about HK$80,000 a year on medical insurance and around HK$50,000 annually on travelling.
“I don’t feel like I am in my eighties, and I don’t consider myself being useless. Do whatever you want as long as you can,” she said.

Like Chang, a growing number of elderly residents are embracing a busy lifestyle and a positive, youthful attitude, in contrast to the common perception of older people as vulnerable and dependent.
The trend has sparked a neologism: “seenager” or “senager”, a combination of the words “senior” and “teenager”.
As the city’s elderly have become healthier, better educated and wealthier, this segment of the grey population is growing, and they have created a huge demand for products and services in medical and healthcare, leisure and recreation, and home and personal care tailored to their age group.
An economist estimated the market value to be between HK$8 billion and HK$22 billion a year and predicted it would double by 2046.
Given the rapidly ageing population and the market potential, experts have called for more targeted policies, as well as products and services for the elderly amid the government’s drive to promote active ageing and the development of the silver economy.
“The whole lifestyle of elderly people has been changing,” said population expert Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai of the University of Hong Kong. “Everyone can be a seenager. We should aim at that and it is a good thing to be active while ageing, which is the best investment to the whole community.”
Retired banker Daisy Cheng Siu-ling, 71, works out at the gym of the Jockey Club near her home in Happy Valley every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
She takes classes in Pilates, yoga and dance. She said she stuck to this routine to stay healthy, physically and mentally, during her retirement.
Cheng also spends two to three months every year travelling, with Japan, Britain, France, Italy and mainland China among her trips.
Sometimes she goes sightseeing with friends, while other times she travels to take part in events and conferences, spending about HK$100,000 a year.
Cheng also helps at two NGOs, offering lectures and consultations to businesses at one and taking local musicians of an ensemble to perform overseas for another.
She was taking courses to become a certified workplace mediator, she said.
“Retirement does not mean there is nothing left to do,” Cheng said. “We need to continue to enrich our lives and learn new things.”

Hong Kong’s population has grown to 7.53 million, and the number aged 65 and above is projected to rise from the 1.45 million recorded in 2021 to 2.74 million by 2046, at which time more than one in three will be elderly, according to official data.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his budget speech last month that a dedicated group to promote the silver economy would introduce measures to boost consumption, develop the industry and unleash productivity among the elderly.
Economist Simon Lee Siu-po of the Chinese University of Hong Kong said many older residents had benefited from the city’s economic boom and they were spending not only on healthcare, but also tourism, restaurants, education, beauty and sports.
He estimated the value of the market of active elders in Hong Kong fell between HK$8 billion and HK$22 billion a year, based on the current population, the proportion of those who were middle class and their spending per year.
He predicted the value would double to HK$16 billion to HK$44 billion by 2046.
“The market will continue to grow,” Lee said, suggesting businesses seize the opportunities and offer more products and services catering to older residents.
Professor Terry Lum Yat-sang, from the University of Hong Kong’s department of social work and social administration, said the city needed long-term planning to address the impact of the changing demographics on the market and society.
He said more targeted social policies to encourage elderly residents to actively engage in society were needed and suggested an incentive model in which they were awarded points for taking up volunteer work. They could then redeem the points for services or interest courses.

Dr Lam Ching-choi, a member of the city’s key decision-making Executive Council, said the government’s policy initiatives should aim at keeping the elderly population active, which would lead them to maintain their spending power as well as help alleviate the burden on the healthcare and social welfare systems.
Lam, a 64-year-old who goes cycling every week at Tai Mo Shan, the city’s highest peak, called for more sports events to be held for the elderly. He also suggested policies to help retain older residents at work by offering flexible hours and tax incentives for employers to keep such staff.
“Policies are needed to support this group of residents and help keep them active so they will keep up their social life and spending,” he said.
Alger Fung Wai-cheong, chief executive officer of insurer AIA Hong Kong and Macau, told the Post earlier that the government should respond to demographic shifts and boost the local economy amid a trend of Hongkongers spending across the border and overseas, which would require input from the government, private sector and the public.
“A lot of opportunities could arise from this [seenagers] segment, such as healthcare and smart home solutions to help them to be more active … They also love continuing education, sometimes they have part-time employment and want to contribute to society,” he said.


Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority brings in experts to help curb medical blunders

‘Super March’ tourism campaign paints ‘promising’ picture for Hong Kong economy

Tenant of Hong Kong’s only private low-rent housing estate loses resettlement bid

Hong Kong to jail, fine those possessing, using vapes in public from April 2026

Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s active ‘seenagers’ are redefining retirement. Can authorities keep up?

Hongkonger Shirley Chang, 82, is among a growing number of elderly residents who are embracing a busy lifestyle and a positive, youthful attitude, which has sparked the neologism “seenager”. Photo: Nora Tam

Given the rapidly ageing population and the market potential, experts have called for more targeted policies, as well as products and services for the elderly. Photo: Sam Tsang

“Retirement does not mean there is nothing left to do,” retired banker Daisy Cheng says. Photo: Handout

An expert has said more targeted social policies to encourage elderly residents to actively engage in society are needed. Photo: Jelly Tse

HK$2 fare scheme cap may discourage elderly from working: Hong Kong lawmakers

Authorities have proposed capping the number of trips under the HK$2 (25 US cents) public transport concessionary fare scheme at 240 a month. Photo: Dickson Lee

A Hong Kong lawmaker has said the proposed cuts could discourage elderly residents from going to work. Photo: Eugene Lee

Hong Kong’s first private residence for elderly set to welcome retirees who can afford it

One of the offerings at Ventria Residence in Happy Valley. Photo: Olga Wong

Residents must buy debentures priced at between HK$7 million and HK$18 million depending on the size of the unit. Photo: Nora Tam

Joe Sham, CEO of Ventria Residence, says the demand for senior housing in Hong Kong is huge. Photo: Nora Tam

A shower room inside one of the flats at Ventria Residence. Photo: Olga Wong

News

Hong Kong

Society

Hong Kong Economy

Financially secure older residents are working out, travelling overseas for conferences and enrolling in classes. Experts say their market power needs to be harnessed


Financially secure older residents are working out, travelling overseas for conferences and enrolling in classes. Experts say their market power needs to be harnessed.


Hong Kong economy

Ageing society