Press Releases
EC discusses challenges, opportunities of an ageing population
The following is issued on behalf of the Elderly Commission:
The Elderly Commission met today (November 29) to discuss issues relating to the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population. In particular, members were concerned with developing longer-term strategies to meet the needs of population ageing in Hong Kong.
According to the 2001 Hong Kong Population Census, 15.7 per cent of the local population or one in every six persons would be aged 65 or over by 2021. With good health, a longer life expectancy and an improved financial situation, the older population will bring about unprecedented challenges and opportunities for individuals, the community and the Government.
In view of this, the Commission held a workshop on November 17 when members considered that there was a need to reinvent the concept of ageing and to rethink policy. As a first step towards this direction, the Commission will organise a large-scale symposium cum exhibition in mid 2002 to arouse the awareness of the community to focus on reinventing the concept of ageing and rethinking the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.
The Commission also noted that there are at present 697 persons aged 100 or over in Hong Kong. To promote the positive image of ageing and as a sign of respect to these centenarians, the Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Mr Tam Yiu-chung, and the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, will send birthday greetings to them.
At today's meeting, members viewed a presentation on a research project on elderly care residential typologies in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and the United States. The project was conducted by a research team led by an academic from the School of Design of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
It was found that with an ageing population, there would be an expanding market for product differentiation in providing quality housing for older persons. In this connection, the Government is considering measures to encourage private developers to incorporate purpose-built residential care homes for older persons in their residential developments, as well as to facilitate private developers to participate in the provision of housing for older persons.
Members of the Commission further noted the very enthusiastic responses to the Community Partnership Scheme (CPS) under the Healthy Ageing Campaign to encourage community participation in the promotion of healthy ageing. The scheme is made possible with a $21 million grant from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
In its first round of applications, $6 million has been allocated for 42 projects, which covered a wide range of topics to be organized by non-government organizations, medical sector, district organizations, tertiary institutions and interests groups. A presentation ceremony will be held on December 11.
The Commission also noted that a Healthy Ageing Resource Centre was set up on the Internet at www.healthyageing.gov.hk to provide information on healthy ageing and hyper-linkage to relevant web sites promoting healthy ageing.
End/Thursday, November 29, 2001
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