Three elderly people were abandoned by relatives in Hong Kong last year and abuse cases of the elderly increased 15 per cent to 368 - but a welfare group says this is just 'the tip of the iceberg'.
Against Elderly Abuse believes the figures underestimate the scale of the problem, although a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department says there is no sign of a long-term upward trend in the issue.
The department refused to give details of any of the cases but it is the first time since 2005 that more than one case of abandonment has been reported in a year.
Against Elderly Abuse says many cases go unreported. 'Because of Chinese culture, elderly people are reluctant to reveal the disgraceful affairs of their families,' said Roy Lam Man-chiu, the group's assistant executive director.
More elderly people are also being targeted by their children for cash, especially after adults received the HK$6,000 government handout for every permanent resident, announced in last year's budget.
Lam said victims were persuaded to hand over cash to sweet-talking children and some were assaulted after refusing to lend money.
'Last Christmas, an elderly woman complained that her son, who had failed to borrow money from her, removed her quilt and turned on a fan at high speed when she was sleeping,' he said. 'He was cold-blooded.'