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An Investment for

the Celebration

of Aging:

Executive Summary

Population aging is a global phenomenon ing-age population. While this change in the pop-
and addressing the unprecedented challenges re- ulation structure can be perceived as potentially
quires a rethink and a reexamination of our political, economically challenging, the government of Hong
social and physical infrastructures. The diversity of in- Kong has adopted a positive stance in the latest
dividuals in older age groups, is demonstrated by the Hong Kong 2030+ and Elderly Services Program Plan
wide range of intrinsic capacities, both physical and consultation documents.
mental, in the population after the age of 65 from in-
dividuals who are in excellent health to those who The research for the report affirms the jus-
lost much of their capacities to function fully with- tifications for this positive attitude to conceptualize
out support and aids. The size of the population of aging. The optimism is a driver for advocating the
older persons who may have lost much of their in- community to ‘think outside the box’ and design a
trinsic capacity can be reduced substantially through society that is more suitable, conducive and sus-
health policies, programs and services that (i) reduce tainable for an older population. In the analysis and
prevalence of chronic diseases which are life-style examination of the challenges and opportunities
related (70% of chronic disease are life-style related), of aging societies, the research team have identi-
(ii) detection of early chronic diseases enabling bet- fied key policy options to unleash the potential of
ter chronic disease management, which will reduce a growing older population, which could generate
disease progression and health deterioration, and prosperity and well being of the city. Hong Kong will
(iii) improve the physical and social infrastructures to be able to reap the benefits of longevity if our so-
enable better functioning of people who have poor ciety has a healthy, engaged and productive pop-
health. ulation. Stakeholders of each and every sector will
need to collaborate and invest in Hong Kong’s phys-
Older people’s ability to contribute socio-eco- ical, social and political institutions for an age-en-
nomically is not only determined by their health but abling environment.
by also socio-economic policies and social norms
and practices. As such, investment have to be made Our Hong Kong Foundation, under the lead-
not only in health and social welfare systems but also ership of Professor E.K. Yeoh from the Jockey Club
in our social and political institutions to yield benefits School of Public Health and Primary Care at the Chi-
that could accrue from the 2nd and 3rd demograph- nese University of Hong Kong, has been working in
ic dividends, derived from the socio-economic con- the policy research for this report over the past 12
tribution of an older population in the demographic months. Based on results of our research, including
transition. a literature review and data analysis, we conclude
that the city needs to invest in enabling health and
The median age of the population of Hong establishing an age-enabling environment in order
Kong will reach 51 years old by 2064, with an elder- to transform Hong Kong in an age-enabling city (Fig-
ly support ratio of 567 older people per 1000 work- ure a).

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