Opinion | Unscrupulous firms' substandard emergency services put elderly at risk
Albert Cheng says the government must crack down on dodgy firms that trick old people into joining substandard home security services
The Personal Emergency Link Service has been providing its guardian angel role for elderly people who live alone since it was set up by the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association 16 years ago.
Since its establishment in 1996, the government has been subsidising qualified senior citizens to install panic buttons linked directly to the association in their homes with the support of the Social Services Department, the Housing Authority and the Housing Society.
Hong Kong's rapidly ageing population has created a critical demand for such safety devices. Over the past three years alone, the government has indirectly subsidised the service suppliers to the tune of over HK$100 million.
Unfortunately, this commendable government assistance programme has also attracted unscrupulous people out to make a fast buck. In one case, an elderly woman in Tin Shui Wai registered to install the emergency alarm service with one company but was tricked into buying the service from another company.
When she signed up for the service with the first company, the agreed monthly payment was HK$100 after the device was installed on June 1 this year.
A few days before the installation, the woman received a phone call from another company, which she thought was the one she had registered with. This company said the installation had to be done on that day, to which she agreed.
