Press Release

Putting Heads together on Elderly Housing

Some 300 professionals from the housing and related disciplines joined an international conference on elderly housing today (12 October 2001) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in an attempt to explore ways to improve the well-being of our elderly population.

Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) and Hong Kong Housing Research Network, the Conference on "Housing for the Elderly in the 21st Century : New Horizons" was attended by housing and service experts from Australia, Singapore, Japan, United States, Shanghai and Hong Kong, who shared their experience in and insights into the housing and related needs of the elderly, including household service, health and medical care as well as financial innovations.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Chairman of HKHS the Hon Chung Shui-ming remarked, "As a non-profit organisation, the Hong Kong Housing Society remains committed to play a part in the provision of social housing for the people of Hong Kong. As before, we would like to act as the 'housing laboratory' for our community. We hope we will be able to break new grounds in the housing provision for our senior citizens so that all can enjoy 'healthy ageing'."

The Housing Society has started to provide homes specially designed for the seniors since late sixties. In view of the ageing population in Hong Kong and the specific housing needs of the elderly, the Society has taken a fresh look at the housing model for senior citizens and undertook the pilot "Senior Citizen Residences Scheme" in 1999. These initiatives manifest the role of the Housing Society in meeting the changing housing needs of the people in Hong Kong. As an organiser of the conference, the Society once again demonstrates its vision to be a world-class housing provider and innovator and shows its commitment to serve the people of Hong Kong.