ABSTRACT
This paper addresses the policy questions that arise with population aging in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Republic of Korea (South) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) using Japan as a basis for comparison. After presenting and analyzing the magnitudes of population aging from 1990 to 2020, data is presented concerning dependency ratios and the age structure for each country. The discussion centers on the needs for income security of the aged, assessing the care needs of the elderly, and recommendations for designing policies for developing a system of formal services to supplement the informal care provided by families. Special emphasis on the policies of Hong Kong are considered.
