One building in new Hong Kong housing estates could be set aside for elderly, surveyors say
Buildings could be designed as one-stop shops for all the daily needs of those over 60 years old, Institute of Surveyors proposes
The time has come for the Hong Kong government to launch a housing scheme for the elderly to deal with a rapidly ageing middle-class population, the city’s surveyors have said.
The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors proposed that officials begin requiring private developers to set aside a building for the elderly in some new residential estates in exchange for waivers to land premiums or other incentives.
The idea was put forward in a policy report released by the institute on Thursday.
These buildings would be designed as a one-stop shop for all the daily needs of those over 60 years old, with flats, activity and rehabilitation centres, a health clinic and nursing home all under one roof.
The flats would not be sold. Instead, senior citizens would be required to pay a lifelong rent of between HK$1.9 million and HK$2.9 million to live in homes ranging from 226 sq ft to 441 sq ft.
If for health reasons they later needed to move into nursing homes, they would get back 30 per cent of their lifelong rental fee to go towards care home fees.