Patterns and paths of child care and elder care in Hong Kong

Abstract

Like other developed Asian societies, Hong Kong has experienced dramatic demographic changes since the 1980s; the rapid decline of the birth rate and the upsurge in the number of senior citizens have had a significant impact on caregiving services’ provisions and strategies. While families continue to play an important role by providing care and financial aid, the number of government-subsidized caregiving services sponsored by non-governmental organizations has grown since the 1970s. The private sector is also playing a more influential role in the provision of residential care services for the elderly. The incremental shifts in care provision during the past decades were a result of the pressures accompanying socio-economic and demographic changes, as well as the political demands of feminists and children's rights advocates. The shift in the care regime was also very much shaped by institutional considerations and government interests.