OpinionHong Kong’s ageing society needs to protect the legal wishes of its elderly

As Hong Kong’s population ages, those caring for elderly relatives often lack support, resources or the ability to make decisions concerning their loved ones

Creating a central depository for legal documents would ensure the wishes of the elderly regarding finances or medical treatment are met

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An elderly person sits in a public garden in Hong Kong’s Jordan district on October 10, 2022. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 8:15am, 24 Mar 2023

Advances in medicine, technology and living standards have contributed to a significant change in our demographic profile. More people are now living longer than before.

With this comes a new set of challenges, with greater demand on medical, social and other services for the elderly. Our response requires thoughtful planning and diligent execution to ensure that we can provide adequate care for our elderly and meet their future needs.

By 2024, the number of people aged over 65 years in Hong Kong will be equivalent to 22 per cent of the population. That will be an increase of 4 percentage points since 2019, according to projections published by the Census and Statistics Department. Its forecast for the following 25 years suggests that figure will increase to 34 per cent.

Fuelling an imbalance in our demographic is a declining birth rate. For a growing number of people in Hong Kong, the cost of having a family is prohibitive and social attitudes towards the traditional family unit have also changed.

The view of the World Health Organization is that “all countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift”.

It is important to remember the contributions that the elderly make within their families and local communities, although these are typically a reflection of their general health and well-being, which has a tendency to deteriorate with age.