Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (March 25):
 
Question:
 
     Regarding the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong (GDRCS Scheme) and the Pilot Scheme for Elderly Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to Reside in Residential Care Homes in Guangdong (Pilot Scheme), will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the numbers of places provided by the 26 recognised service providers (i.e. designated residential care homes (RCHs)) participating in the GDRCS Scheme in respect of the GDRCS Scheme and the Pilot Scheme, and the numbers of residents, occupancy rates and numbers of persons on the waiting lists under the two schemes; 

(2) of the amount of service payment made by the authorities for each residential place in the 26 designated RCHs; how such payment compares with the subsidy level for a subsidised RCH place in Hong Kong; 

(3) given that according to the information of the Social Welfare Department, six of the 26 designated RCHs (including three in Shenzhen and one in Zhuhai) are facing a tight supply of residential places and a certain waiting period may be required, whether the authorities have plans to increase the number of residential places in those designated RCHs or proactively invite more eligible RCHs in the relevant regions to join the GDRCS Scheme in order to meet the demand; 

(4) as it has been reported that the occupancy rates of RCHs in certain regions among the 26 designated RCHs are extremely low, whether the authorities have ascertained the underlying reasons; 

(5) as elderly participants of the Pilot Scheme receive a monthly subsidy of HK$5,000 to cover the costs of residing in designated RCHs and related living expenses, whether the authorities have ascertained the approximate remaining amount available to such elderly residents per month for meeting their living expenses after deducting the residential fees; if so, of the relevant information on such elderly residents broken down by the 26 designated RCHs; 

(6) as the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong Pilot Medical Subsidy Arrangement only covers participants of the GDRCS Scheme, whereas participants of the Pilot Scheme cannot benefit from the Pilot Arrangement, how the authorities ensure that participants of the Pilot Scheme can receive appropriate medical treatment when they have exhausted their Health Care Vouchers and are unable to afford their medical expenses; and 

(7) whether the authorities have drawn up any contingency arrangements to meet emergency medical expenses incurred by participants of the GDRCS Scheme and the Pilot Scheme? 

Reply:
 
President,
 
     The Government implements the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong (GDRCS Scheme) and the Pilot Scheme for Elderly Recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to Reside in Residential Care Homes in Guangdong (Pilot Scheme) to provide Hong Kong elderly persons with additional choices for retirement in the Mainland cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). In consultation with the Health Bureau and Security Bureau, we reply to the question raised by the Hon Kingsley Wong as follows:
 
(1) and (2) As at end February 2026, a total of 26 residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) in Guangdong joined the GDRCS Scheme, providing subsidised residential care services to 1 048 Hong Kong elderly persons. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) negotiates and signs contracts with RCHEs participating in the GDRCS Scheme, having regard to the types of the RCHEs, service packages and RCHE locations, etc, and pays the service fees based on the actual number of elderly participants of the GDRCS Scheme residing in the RCHEs. Since the service fees vary across the RCHEs and concern the contract terms made between the SWD and the RCHEs, it is not suitable for the Government to disclose the relevant details. In overall terms, the Government pays a lower fee for the residential service places in the RCHEs in Guangdong than that of subsidising local residential service places.  
 
     The Government launched the Pilot Scheme in October 2025, providing a monthly subsidy of HK$5,000 to each elderly participant, with a quota of 1 000. As at early March 2026, the SWD has received approximately 900 enquiries and 16 applications in respect of the Pilot Scheme, and has approved 10 applications. Elderly participants of the Pilot Scheme select on their own preferred RCHEs among those joining in the GDRCS Scheme and pay the RCHEs directly.
 
     The number of residents in the respective RCHEs under the GDRCS Scheme and the Pilot Scheme is set out at the Annex.
 
(3) and (4) The RCHEs participating in the GDRCS Scheme offer different number of residential service places with regard to factors such as RCHE scale, staffing arrangements and operational considerations. The SWD liaises with individual RCHEs to adjust the supply of places based on the demand, and keep on identifying more suitable RCHEs to join the GDRCS Scheme, thereby providing more choices for the elderly persons. An elderly participant of the GDRCS Scheme is free to choose any of the RCHEs under the Scheme according to personal preferences and needs. The main considerations of an elderly person when selecting an RCHE include the environment and service quality of the residential care homes, local medical support, and whether the location is convenient for family visits or for his return to Hong Kong for medical services when in need. The SWD will encourage, and provide assistance for the RCHEs to step up their publicity efforts to supply more information to the elderly persons and their families.
 
(5) The elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients participating in the Pilot Scheme receive a monthly subsidy of HK$5,000 under the Pilot Scheme, as well as CSSA payment under the Portable CSSA Scheme. The actual amount of the latter depends on the health condition and number of household members of the elderly recipient.
 
     Taking a singleton elderly recipient as an example, the current average monthly CSSA payment is approximately HK$4,600 per capita. Together with the monthly subsidy of HK$5,000 provided under the Pilot Scheme, the total amount receivable is approximately HK$9,600 (approximately RMB8,500). As fees vary across different RCHEs, an elderly participant of the Pilot Scheme may select an RCHE by himself and pay the RCHE directly, having regard to the CSSA payment and subsidy received from the Government as well as his own financial circumstances. The Government does not maintain records of the living expenses of these elderly persons.
 
(6) and (7) The main target beneficiaries of the Pilot Scheme are non-frail elderly CSSA recipients. After participating in the Pilot Scheme, they may, in accordance with the requirements of their place of residence, sign up for the local Basic Medical Insurance for Urban and Rural Residents and the Commercial Medical Insurance, thereby receiving a certain level of medical protection. 
 
     Should the health condition of an elderly participant of the Pilot Scheme deteriorate, he may, after passing the assessment under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES), switch from the Pilot Scheme to the GDRCS Scheme, and henceforth benefit from the pilot medical subsidy arrangement applicable to the latter. The SWD has commissioned a non-governmental organisation to conduct in-situ SCNAMES assessments for Hong Kong elderly persons residing in Guangdong, including those participating in the Pilot Scheme, and to assist them in applying for joining the GDRCS Scheme if they so wish.
 
     Furthermore, eligible elderly persons, regardless of their participation in the Pilot Scheme or the GDRCS Scheme, can opt for the Elderly Health Care Voucher (EHCV) GBA Pilot Scheme and use their EHCVs to pay for outpatient healthcare services at designated departments at a total of 21 service points in the GBA Mainland cities.
 
     If Hong Kong residents are injured or suffer from an illness on the Mainland and need emergency medical and ambulance arrangements upon returning to Hong Kong, in accordance with the established arrangements, they may raise the request by contacting the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department while on the Mainland.

Ends/Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:06

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