Hong Kong is actively seeking to bolster its elder care services by securing additional places in Guangdong province, a move driven by a significant surge in demand. Welfare Secretary Chris Sun Yuk-han indicated in an interview that authorities plan to negotiate with operators of popular mainland care homes to expand offerings for Hong Kong seniors. This push comes as the number of elderly residents utilising the government's 'Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong' has seen a ninefold increase in recent years.
The growing trend of Hong Kong elders choosing to retire in mainland China, particularly in cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, necessitates a strategic expansion of available care facilities under the cross-border scheme. This initiative aims to provide more options for aging Hongkongers and alleviate pressure on domestic care services.
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The 'Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong' (GDRCS Scheme), launched in January 2020, has been a cornerstone of this cross-border strategy. Currently, 26 residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) across all nine mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) participate in the scheme. The government has stated its intent to continuously expand its coverage, including increasing the number of participating homes and the cities involved.
Pilot Program Shows Modest Uptake
A specific pilot scheme, targeting elderly individuals reliant on social security who are not eligible for publicly funded care homes within Hong Kong, has seen limited participation. Since its October 2025 launch, only 10 beneficiaries have moved to eight care homes across Guangdong as of early March 2026. Secretary Sun mentioned this figure in a written reply to a lawmaker, later clarifying at a Legislative Council panel that updated figures might show a higher number.
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Scheme Evolution and Expansion
The GDRCS Scheme has seen steady growth in participating facilities. As of September 22, 2025, nine additional RCHEs in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, and Huizhou joined the scheme, bringing the total to 24 facilities across eight GBA cities. These facilities offer subsidized residential care places for eligible seniors who have undergone a standardized care needs assessment. The scheme allows eligible Hong Kong seniors to use their government subsidies, retain access to the Old Age Allowance, and utilize healthcare vouchers in designated Guangdong facilities, while also facilitating cross-boundary medical referrals.
Factors Driving Cross-Border Retirement
Hong Kong elders opting for mainland care homes cite several key considerations. These include the environment and service standards of the facilities, convenience for family visits, adequate local medical support, and the ease of returning to Hong Kong for medical services when necessary. The government has also explored sharing medical costs for seniors under these programs, with proposed annual outpatient cost caps at 10,000 RMB and hospitalization caps at 30,000 RMB.
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Support and Future Considerations
To aid the transition, support services have been introduced to help elderly participants adapt to mainland facilities. These services, offered by organizations like the New Home Association, focus on navigating the mainland healthcare system, maintaining family connections, and providing advice on housing, healthcare, and financial matters. The government has also faced questions regarding surveys on the needs of middle-class elderly residents seeking mainland retirement and the potential for an integrated cross-border elderly care information platform. Currently, the policy purview for middle-class elderly needs on the mainland does not fall under the Labour and Welfare Bureau's mandate, and no specific surveys for this demographic have been conducted by relevant departments.
