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Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Jockey Club Home for Hospice this afternoon (October 24):
Raymond (Chairman of Executive Committee, the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, Mr Raymond Wong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good afternoon.
I am pleased to join you all for today's ground-breaking ceremony for the Jockey Club Home for Hospice.
Congratulations to the Jockey Club and the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (SPHC) on teaming up for this important project.
Hong Kong is rightly proud of its highly efficient and effective health care system. Life expectancy in Hong Kong is among the highest in the world. Like many other places, we also have a rapidly ageing population. The number of people aged 65 and above is forecast to surge from around one million to 2.5 million within 30 years. And we are living longer and longer.
This trend will undoubtedly place even more strain on health care and support services for the elderly.
The Hospital Authority provides a variety of palliative care services ranging from in-patient to ambulatory services as well as bereavement services. Over 300 palliative care beds are available for patients with severe or complex symptoms and needs.
We are also providing more psycho-social services and grief counselling for patients, their families and caregivers, with support from medical social workers and clinical psychologists.
To cope with increasing demand for these services, we encourage and welcome the important contributions from all sectors of the community. Non-governmental organisations, with their specific areas of expertise, have a particularly vital role to play.
My sincere gratitude to the SPHC for the excellent work in promoting and providing hospice services in Hong Kong. I also thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the generous financial support for this Home for Hospice project. It is a first-of-a-kind project for Hong Kong, providing essential care services in a home-like environment.
More and more terminally ill patients and their families are increasingly willing and able to afford high-quality hospice and palliative care to enhance the quality of life for loved ones.
I am pleased that this project includes both full-charge and subsidised facilities.
Various studies show that terminally ill patients often wish to spend their final weeks and days with their family and friends in familiar, home-like surroundings. Family participation is essential for effective end-of-life care.
Back in April, during a charity dinner organised by the SPHC, I had a chance to see the design of this Home for Hospice. I was impressed by the layout of the 30 family units. Families will be able to spend quality time together while patients also receive the professional care and attention they require during their precious final days.
I wish to congratulate everyone involved in this project and look forward to its completion in about two years' time.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, October 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:48
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