As Hong Kong’s population ages and the incidence of dementia increases, the need for effective and efficient long-term care and support systems for the elderly is becoming more critical.
Particularly under the spotlight is the protection and management of a person’s property and personal affairs when they lose mental capacity without an enduring power of attorney in place.
Hong Kong's policy in this area is under developed compared to countries such as Singapore and the UK, and recent cases show that the current system is open to deliberate or inadvertent abuse.
It is clear that government policy-makers will need to direct greater attention to these matters to provide more effective protection for the growing elderly population.
Read more on this issue, and our suggestions for addressing the issue, in our full article, published in International Family Law, Issue 3 2015, here.
If you wish to discuss, please contact Richard Norridge, Partner, or your usual Herbert Smith Freehills contact.
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