Hong Kong ill prepared to care for middle-class retirees
As the average age of Hongkongers rises, housing for elderly middle-class people is becoming an issue, writes Elaine Yau
Retirees Sidney Lam Siu-cheung and Judy Lam Kuan-ieng count themselves lucky. Returning from the United States last year, the couple have managed to secure a home in Cheerful Court in Ngau Tau Kok.
The one-bedroom flat is only about 380 sq ft, but it's bright and airy and fitted throughout with seven alarm buttons that they can use to summon help in case of emergencies.
The Lams paid a lump sum of HK$600,000 to the Hong Kong Housing Society, which manages the development, to live in the flat for the rest of their lives. Although they don't have ownership of the property, they reckon the accompanying medical care and services more than make up for it.
"I don't have any children, so there is no one to pass my assets to. Now I just need to pay HK$1,300 for the management fee and HK$600 in compulsory medical check-up fees every month for the two of us," Sidney Lam says. The 70-year-old is a former manager in the US Treasury Department, and Judy is a former law librarian.
Cheerful Court is one of two Housing Society projects that provide subsidised homes for the middle-class elderly under its Senior Citizen Residences Scheme, and is designed with their needs in mind.
For instance, each tenant is issued a watch which can be used to send distress signals within the premises, and facilities include a clinic, a library and a gym.
"We rented an apartment for HK$8,000 per month at Mei Foo Sun Chuen for a year before we moved here. But we didn't get special services there," Sidney says.