Conducted by the Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the study assessed the social impact of U3A on local retirees in three key areas—active ageing, lifelong learning, and life planning, while also gathering their views on cross-border retirement.
The survey, conducted through questionnaire, gathered responses from 826 local retirees aged 60 or above, including 326 U3A participants. Among these U3A members, over 95% agreed that U3A activities had positively contributed to their retirement planning (95.10%), enhanced their understanding of gerontechnology (95.70%) and environmental protection (97.20%), and improved their social (98.80%) and communication skills (98.20%).
U3A participants also reported significantly higher levels of “overall happiness” and lower levels of depression compared to non-participants, underscoring U3A’s positive impact on elderly well-being.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Francis C.Y. Cheng, Managing Director of HK Electric, expressed his delight at the findings: “HK Electric has been partnering with HKCSS to promote the U3A programme since 2006, supporting Hong Kong in addressing the challenges of an ageing population. We are pleased that U3A not only encourages retirees to acquire new knowledge, but also enhances their well-being by fostering greater social interaction and communication”
He added that the government’s recent initiatives to advance the silver economy are expanding choices for seniors while revitalising the local economy. HK Electric will explore opportunities to promote gerontechnology and smart living and collaborate with stakeholders to support the sustainable growth of Hong Kong’s silver economy.
Officiating at the event, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Mr. Chris Sun remarked: “Hong Kong is facing the challenge of a rapidly ageing population. While the government continues to develop policies and strategies to address this issue, we are delighted to see the social welfare and commercial sectors joining forces to offer platforms like U3A, where seniors can remain mentally and physically active, socially engaged, and contribute meaningfully to society.” He encouraged retirees to embrace lifelong learning and to harness the collective strength of the silver-haired generation to enrich their own lives, their families, and the broader community.
Ms. Grace Chan, Chief Executive of HKCSS, expressed her gratitude for the continued support of the U3A programme: “U3A not only facilitates lifelong learning, but also empowers retirees to share their talents and stay connected with the community. As the programme approaches its 20th anniversary, it is truly encouraging to witness such meaningful and rewarding outcomes.”
The study also examined local retirees’ perspectives on cross-border retirement. Among the respondents, 63.43% had visited Mainland China in the past year, primarily for shopping (56.1%), travel (54.6%), and family visits (28.1%), with a smaller proportion seeking medical services (12.8%).
Regarding their willingness to retire across the border, over 80% of respondents indicated that they were either “uncertain” (28.2%) or “unfamiliar” (59.7%) with the government’s cross-border retirement policies.
In terms of information sources, 71% of respondents reported primarily relying on television, followed by friends and family (26.0%). Nearly half (49.2%) indicated that they relied on a single source for such information.
The research team observed that retirees with cross-border experience were more inclined to consider retiring in Mainland China, underscoring the role of “familiarity” in shaping retirement preferences. Additionally, awareness of relevant policies emerged as a significant factor influencing the intention to retire across the border.
Professor Xue Bai, Director of the Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies at PolyU, summarised the findings by emphasising the enduring impact of lifelong learning and retirement planning on the mental wellbeing and happiness of elders. She highlighted that the choice of where to age is a critical component of retirement planning, and that equipping seniors with relevant knowledge, information, and opportunities for interaction and understanding empowers them to make informed decisions for a more active and fulfilling retirement.
The U3A programme, funded by the HK Electric Centenary Trust and coordinated by HKCSS, comprises 35 self-learning centres across Hong Kong. Since its launch in 2006, over 10,000 courses have been organised, offering more than 170,000 learning opportunities to local retirees.
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