Hong Kong to launch carer database this year as elderly suicides remain high

Hong Kong will launch a database this year to identify high-risk carers looking after the elderly, with the city recording more than 470 suicides among older residents annually, accounting for over 40 per cent of all cases.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday that the government was in discussions with the personal data privacy authorities to design data-sharing solutions that complied with the city’s legal requirements. But he added that the government hoped to launch the new database as soon as possible this year.

“[Authorities] and the Privacy Commissioner have roughly resolved how to connect and compare databases in accordance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, but we will launch a pilot scheme first,” Sun told lawmakers at a Legislative Council meeting.

“We hope to launch the pilot scheme as soon as possible this year.”

Statistics from the Coroner’s Court showed that there were 472 suicides involving people aged 60 and above last year, on a par with the 473 and 477 recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The suicides of those aged 60 and over accounted for 41 per cent of the city’s overall cases last year, slightly down from 43 per cent in 2023 and 44 per cent in 2022.