A lawmaker revealed that China Resources Longdation plans to establish a center at its Wan Chai headquarters to source high-quality gerontechnology as well as elderly-friendly products from the mainland.
The initiative aligns with the measures announced by the government's Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy in May, which include expanding the supply of silver products and ensuring quality assurance.
Lawmaker Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming, also the chairman of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, said the center could handle maintenance and after-sales services for mainland age-tech products, which are significantly more affordable than those in Hong Kong.
"The health product industry in the mainland is already highly developed," he said. "It's better to have large-scale corporations handle the procurement."
Koon stated that the center could offer a wide range of services, including offering soft-food options to diversify diets for seniors, launching senior-friendly travel routes, and collaborating with state-owned banks to set up dedicated counters for the group.
He added that the center will operate both physical and online stores, stressing that the initiative prioritizes social responsibility over profit, with "a modest profit being sufficient."
The government predicted that Hong Kong's population aged 65 or above will surge from 1.64 million in 2023 to 2.67 million in 2043, representing one-third of the city's population.
The elderly spending of people aged 60 and above amounted to HK$342 billion in 2024, with projections indicating growth to HK$496 billion within a decade.
