Hong Kong’s ageing challenge: is Singapore’s Kampung Admiralty model the answer?

Kampung Admiralty in Singapore.

Photo: WOHA Hongkongers Oscar and Stella Chan, a couple in their late 60s, have little interest in moving into a traditional residential care home.

The retired civil servants rent a flat in Ma On Shan in the New Territories and, while they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. “If my financial situation and health allow, I would much prefer not to stay in a residential care home for the elderly,” Oscar said.

For him and his wife, if a move eventually became necessary, they would hope for something that offered privacy and independence, while still making support available when needed.

Kampung Admiralty in Singapore.

Photo: WOHA “It would need to be private, self-contained living with the flexibility to access support when needed,” he said. “It feels more realistic for people like us who are still active and value independence, but also want to plan ahead sensibly.” The Chans’ view points to a wider challenge for Hong Kong as it confronts the demands of a rapidly ageing population.

By 2039, one in three residents is expected to be aged 65 or above.

Property consultancy Colliers and international architecture and design firm Hassell are urging the government, private developers and other stakeholders to rethink how the city houses its elderly, proposing a new model of senior living that brings together housing, care and community in design-led environments focused on independence and wellbeing.

Their initiative is based on market analysis, overseas case studies and interviews with local residents, with the aim of ensuring that future design priorities reflect the expectations of Hong Kong’s older population. “At the moment, for seniors in Hong Kong, there is not much choice,” said Kathy Lee, head of research and retail consultancy at Colliers.

Kampung Admiralty in Singapore.

Photo: WOHA With people living longer and many remaining active well beyond retirement age, she said older residents today often have very different expectations from earlier generations.

Rather than viewing this solely as a social problem, Lee said Hong Kong should also see it as an opportunity.

Yet the private sector has shown little enthusiasm for becoming a major provider of housing tailored to the changing needs of senior residents. “The ultimate goal of what we’ve been suggesting is that the government should change the land use policy,

原文链接: 南华早报