4th October 2026 – (Hong Kong) Hong Kong will test the introduction of foreign home‑based carers as early as the second half of next year under proposals outlined in the Policy Address. Labour and Welfare Secretary Chris Sun said the carers would be required to complete accredited pre‑arrival training and pass assessments, with a provisional view that their minimum wages should be set around 10 to 20 per cent higher than those for foreign domestic helpers.
Sun explained that jurisdictions expressing interest in the scheme currently lack courses that fully meet Hong Kong’s standards, so local professional bodies will be commissioned to design and certify programmes in those places. The curriculum is expected to run for at least 150 hours and to be more advanced than training commonly offered to domestic helpers, such as basic first aid and assistance with taking medication. Candidates must pass assessments before deployment to Hong Kong households.
On remuneration, Sun said preliminary soundings support a higher floor than that of foreign domestic helpers, while any future adjustments could be linked to the existing pay mechanism for helpers; annual increases would not necessarily outpace those for the wider cohort. He added that the new carers, who would be domestic workers equipped with specialised elder‑care skills, should complement rather than compete with local staff in residential homes and institutions.
The Policy Address also proposes establishing “community carers’ canteens” by using non‑peak hours in Integrated Youth Service Centres to provide affordable, nutritious meals for groups such as older people living alone, elderly couples and persons with disabilities. Sun noted strong initial interest from prospective donors and said many youth centres could be repurposed to host the service. While he avoided labelling it a formal respite scheme, he pointed to an Aberdeen pilot where carers can rest for about two hours around mealtimes, and he said operating hours could be reviewed if centres and users need more flexibility. He did not rule out converting vacant market spaces into community canteens to broaden support for carers.