Hong Kong elderly home faces loss of licence after naked abuse scandal

The institution houses around 50 tenants on its third floor and 50 on the first floor. The second floor is currently under renovation.

Although the contract for the second and third floor expires tomorrow, it will remain valid until the department makes a formal decision.

Ms Lo, whose 90-year-old mother has been living at the home for three years, paying over HK$10,000 a month, complained of being left in the dark.

"[Another elderly person's relative] asked about the licence expiry, but no one gave a reply. No one told us anything," said Lo. "I hope the Social Welfare Department will make some arrangements."

But she did not believe it would be hard to find another place nearby. She said her mother was mobile and could care for herself. She and her two sisters take turns visiting her.

Ho Wai-ming, whose 83-year-old father lives on the first floor, said she was appalled at the treatment of the elderly.

"It's not acceptable," she said. "But actually, I do know that private homes for the elderly are like this - the quality isn't too good. Unfortunately, my family really can no longer care for my father."

A man surnamed Wong, who had made a HK$2,000 downpayment to secure a place for his father, returned to the home yesterday for a refund.

"I was not notified that their licence was expiring. When I heard the news today, I decided to come over here," he said. "I think [what happened] was quite atrocious."

A department spokesman said it would not tolerate abuse of the elderly.

Social workers had started contacting affected residents and their relatives and were setting up a help desk. The department said there was an abundance of places in private homes for the elderly in Tai Po to provide residential care for all affected residents.

Cambridge Nursing Home, which runs 18 homes for the elderly, expressed regret for the incident in an advert published in several Chinese-language newspapers yesterday. The group said it regretted the inconvenience and damage caused to residents and their families.

"There is no way the institution can shirk responsibility for the incident. The institution promises it will continue to enhance management and improve services," the group said. It added that the incident was an "individual" case.

Calls to the institution were cut off and messages left at the owner's company were not returned.

Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok said yesterday that police were investigating.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Shamed elderly home loses licence

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