Since
the return of Hong Kong to the Mainland China, accessibility to the
neighboring Chinese cities has been improved due to simpler port entry
procedures and better transportation. This and other favorable factors
such as lower costs and spacious environment may explain the growing
number of Hong Kong people who have chosen the Mainland for vacation
and even for retirement. Nevertheless, many elders still know little
about the Mainland environment. In light of this, our four Social Centres
for the Elderly had jointly organized some activities regarding the
Mainland retirement homes.
These activities comprised of two components: firstly,
workshops were held in each centre to cover major factors for consideration;
such as the pros and cons of retiring to the Mainland, channels to find
the right place and the pitfalls.
The
second component was an actual tour to a retirement home in Dong Guan,
China, Lakeview Resort Club. The tour provided an opportunity for the
participants to get a glimpse of the Mainland senior's services and
a first-hand experience for their reference. This particular senior's
home is built on a principle of "respect", "retire"
and "relish" of old ages. Their policy allows a resident's
family and friends to stay temporarily so to accompany the resident;
this will not only enhance their family ties but also make the resident
feel more at home. The tour had opened the participants' eyes to another
alternative for their retirement plan.
