The Welfare Council of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui – the Anglican Church in Hong Kong – is working with the government to help respond to a predicted “silver tsunami” – an increasingly aging population. Dr Law Chi-kwong, Hong Kong’s secretary for Labour and Welfare, said that the “silver tsunami” would bring on a surge in demand for elderly care services in the next several decades. He revealed that the church was planning an innovative project that would provide the elderly with affordable accommodation and accessible facilities; and he said that the government was “proactively considering appropriate supporting policies”.

Dr Law made his comments at the HKSKH’s Welfare Council’s 50th anniversary meeting last month, where he was guest of honour. The Primate of Hong Kong, Archbishop Paul Kwong, was also present in his capacity as patron of the council; along with Bishop Chan Au-ming of Western Kowloon, Bishop Kwok Chi-pei of Eastern Kowloon, as well as the board of directors, executive committee, and nearly 1,000 employees.

Dr Law said that the organisation was a “good companion” for the government in implementing various welfare services such as helping the poor, elderly and rehabilitation. He said that Hong Kong was facing the problem of aging population, which needed “multiple efforts” from all agencies to tackle.

Dr Li Kwok-tung, the chairman of the Welfare Council, praised what he called “the selfless spirit of the workforce [which] enables the underprivileged community to take care of the body, mind and spirit, to achieve full-service development and take the initiative to exploit resources with creative and innovative spirit.”

He said that the Council’s 3,000 staff members were being consulted ahead of the preparation of a new five year development strategy.

Some 655 workers received long-service awards at the 50th anniversary meeting, including 120 who had worked for the Welfare Council for 20 years; five for 30 years; and three for 35 years.

• This article was amended on 8 January to correct some errors in the translation of the source material; including the transliteration of names.