Lawmakers noted the practical challenges associated with conducting welfare checks on elderly individuals living alone and underscored the need for technological monitoring solutions.
This came after the discovery of the skeletal remains of a 77-year-old female tenant in her flat at Kwai Shing East Estate in Kwai Chung yesterday (Aug 6), with the police noting that she may have passed away approximately 1.5 years prior to the discovery.
Scott Leung Man-kwong, Housing Authority member and lawmaker, said on a radio program that it's impractical to expect frequent welfare checks on elderly tenants.
He noted that the dedicated outreach efforts in the past were discontinued due to resource constraints, and future monitoring will rely on technology to identify at-risk seniors earlier.
Housing Authority needs to strike a balance
Leung noted that housing estates are aging and elderly residents are increasing, cases of seniors being unreachable for periods of time are not uncommon.
However, the Housing Department has typically been reluctant to break into homes unless there are clear signs of trouble—like unusual odors, no utility usage, or unpaid rent.
Leung stressed that while community care is valuable, it can't be relied upon entirely, as it depends on individual goodwill rather than enforceable standards.
