Caring for the elderly is going to be a major concern for Hong Kong. The chief executive touched on it in his 2008 policy address, saying: 'The number of people aged 65 or above is expected to increase to 2.17 million by 2033' - a quarter of the population expected then.
But not enough thought is being given to allow such people to help themselves and society by continuing to work, if they want to, rather than forcing them to retire at a certain age.
Asked about the possibility of raising the retirement age, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung told Legco that Hong Kong did not have a mandatory retirement age: 'employees and employers are free to negotiate on a mutually agreed basis for a suitable retirement age', he said. That is being disingenuous. How many people are able to negotiate with their employer on a 'mutually agreed basis for a suitable retirement age'?
The government is Hong Kong's biggest employer. Does it negotiate with individual civil servants about an acceptable retirement age? Of course not.
The government not only imposes a mandatory retirement age, but it implicitly supports one for the private sector as well, by ending contributions to the Mandatory Provident Fund once an employee reaches the age of 65.
It is simply not good policy to make people who are highly educated, experienced, talented and healthy stop working - and to stop paying taxes - in order to be supported by other taxpayers.