Most people, if facing a terminal illness, would not want to burden family members by telling them what they want to do before they die, a poll has found. Only one in five would tell loved ones of their last wishes. Hongkongers' top three dying wishes, according to the random telephone survey by the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, are to spend more time with family and friends, to travel abroad and to make arrangements for their death. Some of the 350 respondents aged 18 to 60, asked what they would choose to do if they found out they only had three months to live, said they would spend all their money, eat more of their favourite food or engage in volunteer work to help others. Society executive director Kwan Kam-fan said patients' last wishes were often neglected. 'Most people are concerned about the medical needs and funerals,' he said. 'They neglect the psychological side. 'Many dying patients have their own last wishes. It would psychologically help both patients and their families if their last wishes could be fulfilled before the patients died.' Terminally ill Lo Wing-leung, 46, who is paralysed and living in a rehabilitation centre, wants a flat near his wife and eight-year-old son. 'I want to have a flat with an electric tilt table that can ease the burden of my wife in taking care of me,' the cancer patient, who was given three months to live five years ago, said. 'I want to live near my family so I can spend more time with them. I treasure the time I spend with my family. There are no secrets among family members. I am happy to share my wishes with my family. I want no regrets in my life.' Society programme development director Faye Chan Yau Man-yu said it was often hard for patients to speak of their last wishes. 'Most patients find it difficult to express their wishes to their families as they don't want to cause them trouble,' she said. 'They don't want to make their families have to do many things for them.' The society launched a pilot programme called 'The Perfect Wish' yesterday to fulfil the last wishes of five terminal patients - three men and two women aged 46 to 71. The main wishes of the five are to travel with friends and spend time with their families. The programme, for which the society has been raising funds through charitable events, will be expanded at the end of the year. Going out in style The percentage of Hongkongers who said these would be their last wishes if they had only three months to live Spend more time with family, friends: 32 Travel abroad: 29 Make arrangements for end of life: 26 Spend final months in peace: 4 Spend all of their money: 3 Source: Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care