Can fridge door sensors help Hong Kong authorities check on elderly living alone?

Technology capable of detecting when a flat or refrigerator door opens could help Hong Kong authorities remotely check on whether all is well with elderly residents living alone, a minister has said.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said on Saturday that the government was testing using wearable devices as part of early detection measures for high-risk cases.

He raised the idea just days after another elderly resident was discovered dead in their home, the latest in a recent spate of such incidents, triggering concerns about older Hongkongers living by themselves.

The minister stressed that the government was committed to providing support for elderly residents and carers.

“We are currently exploring the use of wearable systems or other technologies that we have seen in the market,” he told a radio programme.

“It is rather simple, for example, by detecting the opening and closing of your refrigerator door or the door of your flat to assess whether you are living a normal life or maybe experiencing some problems. In that case, we can try to contact you promptly.”