2016年，香港有700多万人口，其中100多万是65岁或以上的老年人，占总人口的15%。据统计，到2041年，这个数字会增至近260万，到时，每3个香港人中就有1个65岁以上的老年人。
据统计，香港人平均寿命为84岁，虽然长命，但香港的老年人却不幸福，三个老人中就有一个生活在贫困线以下，退休后本该享受天伦之乐，却因无钱养老，面临困境。
在香港这座繁华喧闹的城市，两鬓花白的老人在餐厅、超市、商场里做着最低等的工作，收银、扫地、刷碗、清扫厕所，和年轻人一样，早出晚归，为两餐一宿奔命工作。统计显示，香港年纪最大的汽车教练已有90多岁高龄，70岁以上的小巴司机有100多人。条件好一点的老人可以开个小店，但是更多的老人只能做一些年轻人不愿做的事，甚至去拾荒。
长期以来“自力更生”、“自己顾自己”的理念主导着香港社会福利政策的走向，并无一套完善的退休保障制度。老人退休后生活只能靠个人积蓄或子女供养，直到年满70岁，每月才可享有1135港元的高龄津贴，而香港现在的社会经济状况，一千多元根本不够维持一个老人的日常生活所需，充其量仅够买些水果，故香港民间称其为“水果金”。如此严重的老龄化，如果实行全民养老保障制度，财政是个巨大的难题。香港有社会人士提出覆盖全民的退休保障计划，但有年轻人愤怒发问：为什么要我们每个月出钱供养老人？他们享受到香港腾飞带来的机遇与财富，如今却要求艰难打工的年轻人供养，极不公平。
一家香港媒体发出这样的慨叹：“这个社会，在越来越发达的同时，也将许多曾经作出贡献的老人遗忘。”
In 2016, the population of Hong Kong is 7,000,000, among which 1,000,000 are elderly people aged 65 and above, accounting for 15 percent. According to statistics, the number will reach 2,600,000, which means there is one in every three elderly.
According to statistics, average life of Hong Kong people is 84. Longevity doesn’t necessarily mean happiness, for one in three elderly people lives below poverty line, they can’t afford to enjoy a cozy later life. In a bustling city such as Hong Kong, sliver-hair elderly can be seen working low paying jobs in restaurant, supermarket and mall just like young people, they have to cashier, sweep floor, wash dishes, scrub toilets for basic living. According to statistics, the oldest driving instructor in Hongkong is over 90 years old, more than 100 bus drivers are over the age of 70. Some elder people have no choice but to do works that young people doesn’t care about like collecting rubbish, while only few could afford to open a store to make small but steady money.
The belief in self-reliance and pull your self up by your bootstraps has deeply affected social welfare system in Hong Kong, so there exists no sophisticated retirement protection policy. Elderly people have to live upon their own savings or support from their children. When a person turns 70, he can get HKD$1135 per month for old age allowance, known as fruit money, because that amount is far from enough to cover general expense but to purchase some fruit. Finance is a major problem if to implement an universal pension scheme. Upon such appeal, young people have also voiced their anger, elder generations benefit a lot from opportunity and wealth by economical boom, it doesn’t seem fair for them to take away money from hard-working young people every month.
A local media comments as follows, “as our society grows richer, the elderly who once contributed to it are forgotten.”
香港中环，一名头发花白的出租车司机在等交通信号灯，他的右手搭在了温馨的广告画面中。
香港中环，一对老夫妇搀扶行走。
香港九龙公园，一名老人用卫生间的水冲洗过脚后，穿好像样的衣服准备外出做工。
香港油麻地，一名驼背的老人走过广告牌。
香港九龙，几位老人搭起棚子唱卡拉OK。图中老人唱道：“...谁没有一些得不到的梦...谁愿记沧桑匆匆往事，谁人是对是错，从没有解释为了什么，一笑看风云过...”，他身后听歌的老人有人欢笑，有人流泪。
一名老人坐在公园椅子睡着，身旁有几个啤酒空罐。
天后古庙外，一名老人不断向前挥舞着拳头。
一名独自乘坐地铁的老人盯着站名准备下车。
公园内一名老人打电话时打起了哈气。
香港尖沙咀，一名老人躺在豪华游轮的广告牌前入睡。
香港旺角，一名拾荒的老人与一名年轻的警察。
维多利亚海港，两名老人在眺望远方的高楼。
