Hong Kong Housing Bureau outlines measures to build age-friendly communities
Hong Kong Housing Bureau Deputy Director outlines government efforts to create age-friendly public housing estates, including retrofitting homes, attracting elder-friendly businesses, and piloting fall-detection technology for elderly residents.
Hong Kong's Housing Bureau Deputy Director, in a legislative address on 5 November 2026, outlined government efforts to build age-friendly communities and accelerate the adoption of gerontechnology in public housing. Responding to a motion by lawmaker Chen Tsang-kwong and amendments by three other legislators, the deputy director detailed initiatives by the Housing Authority to create inclusive, livable environments for elderly residents.
The Housing Authority has been working to foster intergenerational communities by attracting businesses catering to seniors. About 330 shops now provide services such as rehabilitation and medical supplies, pharmacies, clinics and community service centres in estates with high elderly populations. The bureau's 'Happiness Design' guidelines include two concepts specifically targeting elderly needs: 'ageing in place' and 'intergenerational inclusion'. These are being incorporated into new public housing projects and retrofitted into existing estates where practical.
In addition, mobile service stations offering traditional Chinese medicine and physiotherapy have been set up in 82 public housing estates. Frontline staff from the Housing Department conduct home-safety assessments for elderly residents living alone, with couples, or with other seniors. Eligible residents aged 60 or above, and those with disabilities, can receive free home modifications including ramps, widened bathroom doors, grab bars, lever taps, and larger switches and doorbells. The Housing Department carries out about 5,800 such modifications annually.
The Housing Authority is also piloting a smart-ageing scheme by working with multiple providers to study the application of home fall-detection systems in public housing units. The pilot covers installation conditions, detection range, privacy protection, and integration with existing emergency support services. Separately, the authority is helping a social enterprise roll out a smart fall-detection system and service trial in public housing and Home Ownership Scheme estates. About 200 units occupied by elderly singles or households have already received fall detectors, enabling immediate emergency assistance. The Housing Authority plans to expand the use of gerontechnology to further enhance safety for elderly residents.