(English version only)
Dear readers,
"While everyone has a lifespan of 120 years, people at 60 are just middle-aged," said the Secretary for Labour and Welfare on 14 January 2019 when asked about the possibility of pushing back the government's move to raise the age threshold for elderly welfare payments from 60 to 65. No matter how veracious or cruel-hearted this construal is deemed, we can see a certain extent of validity there - people live longer now; Hong Kong must prepare for an ageing population; and those who are over 60 and still working 10 hours a day, like the Chief Executive, have gradually increased. Many seniors around us still appear physically youthful and mentally energetic. Their unremitting contribution (e.g. shouldering teaching load to conduct quality classes for students; releasing new research/ trial results to improve people's living standard) has corroborated that they are indeed "older and wiser".