1997 and its implications for migration of elderly people in Hong Kong

In 1997, Hong Kong's status changes from that of a British colony to that of a Special Administrative Region of China. Many elderly people in Hong Kong born in China and potential impact of 1997 on the lives and condition of elderly residents is only now forming a focus of concern. There is already growing popular belief that, for financial and social reasons, some elderly people are going back to China for their retirement. This paper reports on a survey of 419 non-institutionalized elderly respondents which found that relatively few expressed a desire or willingness to retire to China. This paper discusses why this may be so and the policy implications of the survey findings.