Hong Kong Government Plans Intelligent Systems to Support Elderly Care by 2026

LCQ 13: Promoting application of gerontechnology

Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (January 21):

Question:

It is learnt that there has been continued concern in Hong Kong society about families of elderly doubletons featuring "the elderly taking care of the elderly" as well as families with "persons with disabilities taking care of elderly persons" and families with "elderly persons taking care of persons with disabilities". The Chief Executive mentioned in the 2025 Policy Address that an intelligent accident detection system (detection system) would be installed for 300 high-risk households to detect dangerous situations involving high-risk elderly persons in a timely manner. In addition, it has been reported that some organisations have collaborated with enterprises in the community to install gerontechnology products for elderly households. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether it has set a timetable for installing the detection system for those high-risk households; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) of the number of households currently applying for the Housing Department's Grant for Emergency Alarm System (EAS Grant), with a breakdown by the number of elderly tenants in the relevant units, their districts of residence and age groups (each covering five years);

(3) given that in the reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2025-2026, the Government indicated that the number of recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme receiving the EAS Grant had gradually decreased from the 2020-2021 financial year to the 2024-2025 financial year, whether the Government has studied the reasons for the decrease in the number of recipients;

(4) whether it has conducted performance assessments of organisations currently providing EAS (commonly known as "ping on bell") service; if so, of the standard of service provided by various organisations; if not, whether the Government will consider conducting such assessments of those organisations;

(5) of the number of households that have installed the Door Sensor Installation for Elderly Households (the sensor system) to date, with a breakdown by the number of elderly tenants in the relevant units and their districts of residence;

(6) whether the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) may receive the alerts issued by the sensor system simultaneously; if so, of the number of alerts issued by the sensor system to date, with a breakdown by the reasons for issuing alerts; if not, whether the Government will consider allowing HA to receive the relevant alerts simultaneously in the future;

(7) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of cases where elderly persons were found dead at home in the past five years, with a tabulated breakdown by their districts of residence, whether "ping on bell" was installed and the level of impairment under the Standardized Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services; and

(8) apart from the detection system and the sensor system, whether the Government has considered further providing other practical gerontechnology products for elderly persons directly for free; if so, whether it has estimated the additional funding required; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

The Government strives to strengthen support for carers and promote the application of gerontechnology through various measures, including providing carers' allowance to carers from low-income families, enhancing respite services, as well as establishing a dedicated fund to foster the use of gerontechnology to serve the needy. The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), after consulting the Housing Bureau, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS), gives the following consolidated reply to the eight parts of the question:

(1)and (8)Carers play an important role in supporting elderly persons and persons with disabilities living in the community. The LWB is committed to supporting carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, with a view to alleviating their physical and mental stress, and at the same time providing care recipients with more comprehensive care. As part of the bigger effort to strengthen support for carers, the LWB is, in accordance with the 2025 Policy Address, planning to launch a pilot scheme to install intelligent accident detection systems for 300 high-risk carer households.

The LWB hopes to achieve in this pilot scheme, through the application of technology, immediate detection, timely intervention, and prompt assistance whenever home accidents befall carers and/or their care recipients. The LWB is actively undertaking preparatory work and expects to announce the detailed arrangements in the first quarter of 2026 at the earliest, followed by installation of systems for relevant households. We aim to complete such installation for no fewer than 300 households by or before the third quarter of 2026.

In addition, the Government set up the $1 billion Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care (the Fund) in December 2018 to subsidise eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure, rent or trial technology products, so as to improve the quality of life of service users and reduce the burden and pressure of care staff and carers. In 2024-25, the Government injected additional $1 billion into the Fund and expanded its scope to cover technology products suitable for household use. As at December 2025, the Fund had allocated a total of about $910 million, subsidising about 2 100 elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure or rent over 27 000 technology products.

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) expanded the scope of the Community Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly in September 2023 to cover rental of assistive technology products, thus further catalysing the use of gerontechnology in community care services for elderly persons.

As for the public rental housing (PRH) estates, apart from the Internet of Things (IoT) Door Sensor Installation for Elderly Households (the Scheme), the HD is actively exploring the use of new technologies in promoting elderly-friendly living. For instance, the HD has piloted the installation of smart fall-detection systems in some accessible toilets of some PRH estates to detect incidents such as falls, fainting, prolonged inactivity, etc. The HKHA has also collaborated with the Hong Kong Police Force to promote the Project PINPOINT which encourages the use of location devices for high-risk elderly individuals so as to prevent the elderly from missing and alleviating the stress of their carers and families. The HD will continue exploring the feasibility of implementing other gerontechnologies with other government departments and social welfare organisations with a view to benefiting more elderly residents. The HKHA and the HKHS will also continue looking into the application of more smart solutions in their rental estates, such as exploring the use of robots to assist in carrying heavy items to strengthen support for elderly residents.

(2) to (4)The HKHA provides eligible elderly households who do not receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) with subsidies to instal Emergency Alarm Systems (EAS) (also known as "Safety Bell"), so that the elderly in need are able to seek prompt assistance in case of emergency. The HKHA has extended the scope of the EAS subsidy to cover not only traditional EAS but also mobile EAS, such as mobile phones and watches equipped with EAS as well as products with fall detection function. Elderly households may purchase the said devices on their own. Successful applicants will be given a one-off subsidy of not more than $2,500 to cover the actual expenses. As at end November 2025, the HKHA had approved over 26 000 applications. The HKHA does not keep the breakdown of the age profile or the districts of the applicants.

On the other hand, for elderly CSSA recipients aged 65 or above, if they are single or living in a family with other family members who cannot take care of him/her, may apply for a special grant from the SWD to cover the fees for installing and using indoor or mobile EAS. CSSA recipients aged 60 to 64 may also apply for the same special grant from the SWD if they are single or living in a family with other family members who cannot take care of him/her and certified to be more than 50 per cent disabled or suffering from such medical conditions which, in the opinion of a doctor of a public hospital or clinic, may develop into life threatening conditions and require immediate attention.

From 2020-21 to 2024-25, the number of CSSA recipients receiving the grant for EAS dropped from 32 745 to 25 543, alongside the decrease in the number of CSSA elderly cases from 128 863 to 110 846. The CSSA recipients decide on whether to apply for the grant for EAS based on their individual circumstances with varying reasons. Staff at Social Security Field Units of SWD will provide eligible CSSA recipients with information on the relevant grant and facilitate their applications. Apart from the grant provided under CSSA, various organisations in society also offer CSSA recipients similar EAS assistance.

The SWD has not designated any service providers with regards the grant for EAS provided under the CSSA Scheme. CSSA recipients in need are free to purchase suitable EAS according to their needs. Separately, under the District Services and Community Care Teams - Pilot Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers, the Government subsidises eligible elderly persons and persons with disabilities referred by the Care Teams to install and use the emergency alarm services. Such services are provided by the designated service providers engaged by the SWD through established procurement procedures. The SWD monitors the provision of the services in accordance with the service contracts, as well as reviews and enhances the services as appropriate.

(5) to (7)The HKHA always upholds the values of "caring" and keeps pace with the times to actively explore measures that facilitate elderly persons and address various needs of elderly residents through the application of innovative technologies. In April 2025, the HKHA launched the Pilot Scheme of the IoT Door Sensor Installation for Elderly Households in Wan Hon Estate in Kwun Tong and Sheung Lok Estate in Ho Man Tin. The elderly households who voluntarily participated in the Scheme were equipped with the system which allows designated relatives or friends to keep track of the movement of the elderly concerned in and out of their flats and to provide timely support when needed. The HKHA may also conduct regular statistical analysis through its back-end systems. The Scheme concerned is still being run on a trial basis, with voluntary participation by a total of 55 elderly singleton households. As at end December 2025, four alerts were issued regarding prolonged periods of door inactivity. The said alerts did not involve any accidents, and were triggered by households' extended trips or hospitalisation without deactivating the sensors.

Subject to residents' participation and the availability of resources, the HD will identify suitable estates for expansion of the Pilot Scheme along with simultaneous receipt of door-opening/closing notifications. The HD will actively explore the feasibility of implementing other similar schemes in collaboration with other government departments and social welfare organisations, with a view to benefiting more elderly households in other PRH estates.

In the past 5 years (i.e. from 2021 to November 2025), the number of natural death cases recorded in PRH units under the HD is set out in the table below. HD does not maintain statistical breakdowns by age, district, or whether the concerned individuals had EAS installed.

Year

Number of cases of death recorded at home

2021

Around 500

2022

Around 800

2023

Around 700

2024

Around 600

2025

(January to November)

Around 500

Over the same period, the number of death cases recorded at home in rental estates under HKHS is set out in the table below.

Year

Number of cases of death recorded at home

(Number of cases with EAS installed)

2021

12 4

2022

24 4

2023

32 1

2024

26 2

2025

(January to November)

19 5

The SWD does not maintain statistics on the levels of frailty of the relevant cases as assessed under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services.

Source: AI-found images

Speech by DSJ at conference on The Future of Hong Kong Economy

Following is the keynote speech by the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, at the Thought Leadership Conference Series: The Future of Hong Kong Economy organised by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School today (January 21):

Professor Wong (the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of HKU and Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy, Professor Richard Wong), Professor Cai (the Dean and Chair of Economics of the HKU Business School, Professor Cai Hongbin), Professor Mokyr (the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, Professor Joel Mokyr), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. I am most pleased to address such a distinguished audience today at the conference on The Future of Hong Kong Economy 2026.

The year 2026 unfolds against a global backdrop of complexity and uncertainty. Issues like geopolitical tensions, supply chain shifts and tariff disputes are reshaping the flow of capital and the operation of businesses. Yet history shows that Hong Kong's prosperity has always been fuelled by embracing changes, and by turning challenges into opportunities.

This leads me to the theme today - how Hong Kong can continue to serve as a trusted platform for business growth in the region and beyond. Please allow me to structure my remarks around three "C"s: Certainty, Capability, and Connectivity.

Certainty - rule of law as economic bedrock

The first and most fundamental "C" is Certainty.

For businesses to thrive and economies to flourish, we need above all a predictable environment: certainty in contracts, in dispute resolution and in the enforcement of rights and obligations. In short, certainty is underpinned by the rule of law.

Hong Kong's success as an international financial, trading, and legal services centre is inseparable from its solid rule-of-law foundation. Our common law system, constitutionally guaranteed under the Basic Law, has been operating with integrity for over 180 years here. Judicial independence, equality before the law, and respect for contractual freedom are core values that we all treasure.

In an era when businesses must navigate multiple jurisdictions and political risks, Hong Kong offers something unique: a stable, bilingual, and internationally trusted legal environment. As the only common law jurisdiction within China, and the only one operating fully in both Chinese and English, Hong Kong provides unparalleled credibility and convenience for cross-border transactions.

Under the Basic Law, free flow of capital is guaranteed. Investments and properties in Hong Kong are protected by a robust regulatory regime administered by bodies including the Securities and Futures Commission and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

The jurisprudence of the Hong Kong courts commands high respect in other common law jurisdictions. In a recent judgement, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sitting in London referred to and discussed no fewer than six Hong Kong decisions from the past few years when determining insolvency issues raised in an appeal before it. This credibility is reflected in our consistent global standing - Hong Kong ranks among the top jurisdictions globally for business legislation and dispute resolution, making us the world's second-most preferred seat for arbitration and number one in the Asia-Pacific region.

Legal certainty is also a strategic enabler that allows businesses to plan long term, deploy capital with confidence, and innovate without fear. This foundation makes Hong Kong the ideal international legal hub for proactive collaboration in an era where "safe passage" for capital is more critical than ever.

Capability - professional services powering economic growth

Building on certainty comes the second "C": Capability.

Hong Kong's professional services ecosystem - spanning across legal, finance, accounting, tax, risk management, and dispute resolution - is one of our most powerful strengths. Their quality services are integral to value creation - by empowering businesses to manage risks effectively, tackling compliance issues skilfully, structuring transactions securely, and resolving disputes efficiently.

Our legal profession is international in outlook and local in insight. Our financial and accounting professionals operate to global standards while understanding regional realities. Together, they provide end-to-end support across the entire business lifecycle - from market entry and project financing, to management of an intellectual property rights portfolio, regulatory compliance, restructuring, and cross-border dispute resolution.

In a world of tariff disputes, sanctions, and regulatory divergence, companies increasingly rely on professional services to navigate complexity. Whether expanding into ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the Middle East, Africa, or other markets, businesses require bespoke solutions - solutions that are legally sound, commercially viable, and culturally informed.

This is precisely where Hong Kong excels. We are home to a deep pool of professionals, recently ranked first in Asia and fourth globally under the IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Talent Ranking.

Our professionals speak the universal language of business, with clear understanding of the nuances of different legal systems, market practices, and risk profiles. We have over 13 000 local lawyers and over 1 500 foreign lawyers from over 30 jurisdictions, including some 500 from the Chinese Mainland as well as more than 80 foreign law firms. Furthermore, we have a unique asset - over 600 lawyers with dual qualifications to practice in both Hong Kong and the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area.

In my view, an enterprise expanding globally is like a gentleman visiting a tailor shop for an impeccable suit. An off-the-rack solution simply does not work. What businesses need, and Hong Kong can offer, is a bespoke experience - professional services that cater to the client's needs and execute with precision to ensure a perfect fit for every occasion.

Connectivity - GoGlobal and Hong Kong's strategic role

This brings me to the third "C": Connectivity.

Hong Kong has long been described as a "super connector" and a "super value-adder". It highlights Hong Kong's crucial role under the "one country, two systems" in connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.

In recent years, the Government has taken proactive steps to strengthen this role by supporting enterprises, particularly Mainland enterprises, to use Hong Kong as a launch pad for global expansion.

Under the Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address, I have been tasked to promote our legal services and co-ordinate with other professional sectors to meet the going global needs of Mainland enterprises.

To this end, we launched the Hong Kong Professional Services GoGlobal Platform last December. It serves two major functions:

(1) Information integration: We make information on professional services providers and their capability easily accessible to enterprises. At the launch ceremony of the Platform, we published a collection of over 50 success stories covering a wide range of sectors and extensive markets including Asia, Middle East and Africa.

(2) Needs matching: We enhance co-ordination to meet the specific needs of enterprises. For instance, I recently led a cross-professional delegation to Shenzhen for a direct exchange between our experts and Mainland enterprises. This initiative was well-received.

Earlier this month, we also established the Expert Committee on Professional Services for Going Global, comprising experts from relevant fields, to advise me on our strategy to promote Hong Kong as the premier two-way platform for attracting investment and going global.

Looking ahead

Ladies and gentlemen, as we consider Hong Kong's economic outlook in 2026, we should neither be complacent nor pessimistic. The challenges are real. But so are our strengths.

The certainty under our rule of law infrastructure instils trust. The capability of our professional services delivers solutions. The connectivity through our GoGlobal initiatives provides opportunities.

The relationship between law and the economy is practical, dynamic, and deeply intertwined. A resilient economy requires a credible legal system. A modern legal system must serve real economic needs. In Hong Kong, these two have grown together - and they will continue to do so.

With continued collaboration among the Government, businesses, and the professional community, I am sure that Hong Kong will not only navigate the present uncertainties, but emerge stronger, more relevant, and more connected to the world.

On that note, I wish you all a fruitful conference today and continued success in your endeavours. Thank you very much.

Speech by DSJ at conference on The Future of Hong Kong Economy Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases