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Rachel Chan

By 2046, an estimated 36 per cent of Hong Kong’s population will be over 65. The Hong Kong government has announced 30 measures to promote the silver economy. While targeting the consumption power of the elderly may provide a much-needed boost to the economy, it is far from a solution to the mounting challenges posed by our rapidly ageing society.
As a carer for two wheelchair-bound parents, I face daily struggles that underscore the urgent need for a more comprehensive approach to ageing. These struggles are not unique to me but reflect systemic gaps that demand immediate attention. Other cities and countries have tackled these issues with foresight and innovation, and Hong Kong has much to learn from their successes.
Hong Kong is far from being a wheelchair-friendly city. Stairways, kerbs and narrow pathways make navigating urban spaces a daily ordeal for those with mobility challenges and their carers.
Singapore, by contrast, was recognised as one of 10 most accessible cities in the world in a 2022 travel survey. Compared to Hong Kong’s barrier-free access manual, Singapore’s barrier-free accessibility code seems to place a stronger emphasis on universal design principles, seamless connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces, and the incorporation of assistive technologies as part of its smart city initiatives.
In Hong Kong, the health system also poses significant barriers. Elderly people often require regular medical appointments for chronic conditions, but they face a stark choice between expensive private care and long waits for public services. Outside regular clinic hours, the only option for most people is the overcrowded accident and emergency departments of public hospitals.

Hong Kong needs to embrace teleconsultations at scale to improve healthcare accessibility. In Asia, Singapore has mainstreamed telehealth in both public and private healthcare systems.
Elderly patients can consult doctors via video for chronic conditions, with expenses covered by Medisave, the national medical savings scheme. Low-income seniors can be subsidised for both chronic and acute issues under the Community Health Assist Scheme. Private virtual healthcare platforms offer 24/7 virtual consultations, easing the strain on public A&E services outside regular consultation hours.
Housing is another pressing issue. My parents live in a non-subsidised Hong Kong Housing Society development designed for elderly residents, but rents have increased by nearly 60 per cent over the past eight years. Moving them to alternative housing is difficult, given the lack of affordable, wheelchair-accessible options in the rental market. Most new developments have narrow hallways and bathrooms unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Hong Kong urgently needs to develop a senior housing market that offers more affordable options. We cannot rely solely on the government or organisations like the Housing Society. A recent report by Our Hong Kong Foundation urges the government to create favourable conditions for the development of private senior housing.

Australia has one of the world’s most established senior housing markets, offering a variety of options, from independent to assisted living and continuing care retirement communities. Government support – land sourcing, relaxing land lease restrictions and subsidised healthcare services – lowers costs for developers.
We should also promote multi-generational housing to strengthen family support for the elderly. The Singapore government provides 3Gen flats with flexible layouts to accommodate three generations under one roof. In the private sector, dual-key condos – single properties with two self-contained living spaces – are increasingly popular and sold at a premium. Hong Kong developers should tap into the growing demand for multi-generational housing.
Support for carers is another overlooked priority. Years ago, I quit my full-time job to care for my parents full-time. Now even with the support of domestic helpers, balancing work and caregiving has become a daily struggle. Flexible work arrangements are essential for carers, yet such opportunities are scarce in Hong Kong.
Other countries have implemented policies to support carers. For example, Japan allows workers to take up to 93 days of leave at partial pay to care for elderly relatives. Singapore mandates that employers consider remote work and part-time arrangements starting in December 2024, making it easier for carers to stay in the workforce.
By offering flexible employment options, we can also encourage more “young old” residents to re-enter the labour market, reducing their dependence on public services while boosting the economy.


My challenges are only the tip of an iceberg. Without comprehensive reforms, the combination of a growing elderly population, rising healthcare costs and a shrinking workforce will push Hong Kong’s public health and welfare systems to the brink of collapse. Other regions offer valuable blueprints for action.
Singapore’s holistic Action Plan for Successful Aging is one such example. The plan focuses on preventive health, senior-friendly urban spaces, lifelong learning, and fostering family support and community engagement. Japan’s Long-Term Care Insurance system, funded through mandatory premiums and taxes, provides another reference model, offering a mix of institutional, home and community-based services to meet the diverse needs of its elderly population. To ensure sustainable long-term care for all, it is time Hong Kong considered options in addition to the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme.
We seek visionary and innovative leadership from the government for Hong Kong’s ageing society. But public-private collaboration is also essential, as demonstrated by successful examples from other countries, whether it is property developers designing age-friendly housing, healthcare providers offering teleconsultation, insurers expanding coverage for elder care or employers willing to offer flexible employment modes.
Hong Kong’s elderly deserve more than being treated as economic drivers. Let us build a society that meets their needs with compassion and urgency – before it is too late.


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Silver economy far from enough for rapidly ageing Hong Kong

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Illustration: Craig Stephens

A show flat at Blissful Place, one of the projects under the Hong Kong Housing Society’s Senior Citizen Residences Scheme, in 2023. Photo: Elson Li

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Opinion

Hong Kong Opinion

News

Hong Kong

Promoting economic activities catering to the elderly is welcome, but more must be done to address the issues the elderly and their carers face


Promoting economic activities catering to the elderly is welcome, but more must be done to address the issues the elderly and their carers face.


Hong Kong economy

Ageing society

Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong population

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Singapore

Japan

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Silver economy far from enough for rapidly ageing Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Promoting economic activities catering to the elderly is welcome, but more must be done to address the issues the elderly and their carers face

Promoting economic activities catering to the elderly is welcome, but more must be done to address the issues the elderly and their carers face