HK Social Welfare Services Group Cater for Needs of Elderly

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 07, 2002

HK Social Welfare Services Group Cater for Needs of Elderly

To address the growing elderlypopulation and the aging problem in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government and social welfare services group are providing more services to cater for the needs of the elderly.

Last month, after his visit to St. James Settlement, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said the government has placed great importance in providing services for the elderly in the past four years.

The total annual expenses for the elderly has risen to 3.2 billion HK dollars (410 million U.S. dollars) in 2001 from 1.6 billion HK dollars (205 million U.S. dollars) over the past four years, he said.

Kitty Yuk, chief Social Work Officer (Elderly) Team One of the Social Welfare Department, said the elderly population for people aged 65 or above has reached 750,000 for 2001, accounting for 11.1percent of the total population in Hong Kong.

"The government has provided a lot of services for the elderly,such as community support services and other volunteer work. Also,Elderly Residential Homes subsidized by the government cost only about 2,000 HK dollars a month, compared to 5,000 HK dollars to 6,000 HK dollars offered by private elderly centers," Yuk said.

She said Hong Kong and other countries and regions could learn from each other on the area of elderly social services.

"The governments of foreign countries and regions might providebetter medical insurance services for the elderly, but it is important that the services provided suit Hong Kong's economic needs," she said.

At present, Old Age Allowances are given to the elderly as a kind of pocket money.

According to C. M. Cheng, chief social security officer of the Social Welfare Department, allowances of 625 HK dollars is given to people aged 65 to 69 years old per month, while 705 HK dollars is given to people aged 70 or above per month.

David Fung, senior manager of the Wanchai Multi-Service Center for the Elderly of St. James Settlement, said whether the allowances are adequate depends on whether the elderly wholly depends on it or not.

"If the elderly only takes the allowance as pocket-money, it iscertainly enough. But with the present economic difficulties in Hong Kong, some elderly might be relying the allowances to make a living. Then it would be inadequate," Fung said.

St. James Settlement is a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Wanchai, with 55 percent of its expenditure subsidized by the government.

Fung said that the high rate of suicide among the old aged is becoming a serious problem.

In 2000, there were 915 suicidal cases committed where 264 cases were committed by the old aged, accounting for 28.9 percent.

"Our biggest challenge is to provide a recreational center for the frailer elderly due to the problem of aging. We also provide recreational and educational courses for them, while encouraging them to work as volunteers in society. This will help them to leada meaningful and rewarding life," Fung said.

St. James Settlement also provides bathroom and canteen facilities, as well as home assistance and psychological guidance for the elderly.

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