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Hong Kong’s ageing population and income gap strain social safety nets
South China Morning Post examines how Hong Kong’s ageing society and a widening income gap are putting pressure on the city’s social fabric, as part of a five part look at the government’s five year plan.
The outlet highlights the case of an elderly couple in Tsing Yi, where the wife is the sole carer for her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease and has required assistance with daily activities after a recent fall.
According to SCMP Economy, the couple live in public housing and rely on government allowances for the elderly totaling HK$8,690 (US$1,108) a month, while the wife also manages multiple health conditions and takes eight types of medication daily.
SCMP Economy also notes that the wife says her reliance has shifted over time, adding that caregiving has effectively reversed from what she expected.