News & Stories

The clatter of dim sum carts filled a transformed teahouse at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today, as over 100 participants, including seniors with swallowing difficulties and their families, savored a nostalgic Yum Cha experience on campus. Led by HKUST senior management and distinguished guests, students and staff volunteers served delicate soft-textured and fresh options dim sum on traditional carts, while two HKUST startups showcased how technology could enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

By Miao Jia, Research Assistant Professor of Division of Social Science, HKUST By 2064, Hong Kong's number of elderly (aged 65 and older) will reach 2.58 million, accounting for 36 percent of the population. Today this percentage stands at 16, with one third of the elderly living in poverty. These staggering figures pose severe challenges to our society, thus studying the well-being of Hong Kong's elderly is vital to developing the right solutions. Since 2010, our Center for Applied Social and Economic Research team at HKUST has been conducting surveys of 3,200 families, 7,200 adults and 950 children every two years (The Hong Kong Panel Study of Social Dynamics), looking into how our society is transformed over time and how various government and social policies are influencing families.