MR CHAN KIN-POR (in Cantonese): Thank you, President. Hong Kong has the longest life expectancies in the world and is facing the increasingly serious problem of an aging population and the growing demand for elderly services. We need to consider how to provide the elderly with a better elderly care environment and healthcare services, and cross-boundary elderly care in the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”) is one of the feasible options. I would like to thank Mr Stanley LI for proposing today’s motion and the other Members for proposing amendments so that we can discuss this issue that deserves attention.
Most Hong Kong elderly persons living in GBA do not benefit from local medical protection and they have to travel between the two places for treatment when they are sick. The inconvenience of travelling and the long waiting time are some of the reasons why elderly persons are reluctant to spend their twilight years in the Mainland. I urge the SAR Government to actively promote the cross-boundary use of healthcare benefits so that elderly persons can also use “health care vouchers” in the Mainland, which will save them medical expenses and eliminate the need for them to take long rides, thus increasing the incentive for them to choose elderly care in the Mainland.
It is proposed in the Policy Address that the “Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme” will be launched next year to extend the coverage of the elderly health care vouchers to suitable medical institutions in GBA next year. The preliminary target is to cover about five additional medical institutions as trial service points for provision of primary healthcare services in GBA cities, and to include individual designated medical institutions providing dental services at places such as Shenzhen. I strongly support this policy. In fact, apart from Guangdong, quite a number of Hong Kong elderly persons are now choosing elderly care in their hometowns, including provinces such as Beijing, Hainan, Guangxi, Suzhou and Zhejiang. In the long run, the Government should actively explore with the Mainland authorities the possibility of extending social welfare protection to more provinces, e.g. to those provinces where the SAR Government has already set up offices first, i.e. Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, etc.
In addition, I propose that the elderly should be allowed to use “health care vouchers” to settle payments of Mainland medical insurance premiums, so that they can have greater flexibility in meeting medical expenses. At present, non-working Hong Kong residents living in the Mainland can voluntarily join the basic medical insurance scheme for urban and rural residents and enjoy the same basic medical insurance benefits as those enjoyed by Mainland residents. The authorities should expeditiously discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities the implementation of the use of “health care vouchers” to settle payments of Mainland medical insurance premiums, so that Hong Kong elderly persons in the Mainland can enjoy basic medical protection.
We also need to step up publicity on GBA cross-boundary elderly care planning, so that more elderly persons in Hong Kong can learn about the opportunities and benefits of elderly care in GBA. The elderly homes in the Mainland are spacious, with plenty of space for people to move around, and the air and environment are very suitable for elderly care; yet, the information that the elderly got is often insufficient. The authorities can organize briefing sessions in public residential care homes to vigorously publicize the environment and facilities of residential care homes in GBA, and even arrange special vehicles to the Mainland for on-site inspections, so as to allow the elderly to understand the services and practical benefits of residential care homes in the Mainland. Through the briefing sessions, service providers can directly answer the questions of the elderly and their family members, so as to ease their worries and give them peace of mind, and enable them to actively consider returning to the Mainland to live a peaceful life there. For those who are in financial need, it is suggested that a one-off relocation allowance can be provided to them. This will not only help alleviate the shortage of residential care places in Hong Kong but also enhance the quality of life of the elderly and provide them with better elderly care conditions.
GBA cross-boundary elderly care planning provides an additional elderly care option for Hong Kong elderly persons. It will be a major trend for Hong Kong elderly persons to choose elderly care in the Mainland. The authorities should continue to optimize the cross-boundary elderly care arrangements and strengthen support for elderly persons who wish to choose elderly care in the Mainland, so that they can enjoy high-quality healthcare services in GBA.
Thank you, President.