Hongkongers urged to plan earlier for end of life
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong advocates and care professionals are urging residents to start end-of-life planning earlier, as the city ages rapidly and public understanding of death remains limited. The discussion has focused on practical steps such as living funerals, advance directives and family mediation to reduce conflict, preserve autonomy and ease emotional strain on relatives.
Key Points
- Regina Luk Sau-ying said she joined a living funeral at age 65, inviting 20 friends to watch her lie inside a paper coffin in darkness
- Luk, now 69, said the experience felt like being safely held in a womb before the lid opened and friends greeted her
- She planned details including her funeral portrait, background music and eulogies, treating the event as a celebration of life in taboo-bound Hong Kong
- Experts warned that low death literacy can leave families dealing with conflict, emotional debt, locked assets and unnecessary suffering as health declines
- A 2025 Hong Kong Council of Social Service study gave Hongkongers a death literacy score of 4.68 out of 10, below Singapore’s 5.66
Why It Matters
As one of the world’s fastest-ageing populations, Hong Kong faces growing pressure to improve how residents prepare for death and incapacity. Earlier planning can help families avoid disputes and ensure older people retain more control over medical, financial and funeral decisions