Discussion around death and funeral planning is considered inauspicious, even taboo, in Chinese society. That is why it did not figure prominently at the Smart Retirement Expo last weekend. Expo exhibitor and Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng Kwai-lun noted that his booth was “practically the only one” discussing death and funeral arrangements, despite the expo’s focus on retirement planning in an ageing society. However, attitudes have changed in recent years, he said, and people have grown more open to discussing death.

That should be good for both the individual and loved ones. Ng, who practises “life and death education”, linked it to recent profound reminders of our mortality – the Covid-19 pandemic and, more recently, the Tai Po housing estate fire in which 168 people died. Between the two tragedies, Ng said, the box office success of the funeral-themed film The Last Dance also helped bring death and end-of-life issues into mainstream discussion.

“There is an older generation that completely avoids the topic, but retirees now are at least willing to express broad preferences, even if it’s just in vague, passing comments,” he said. “That’s already a step forward.” It was reflected in a steady trickle of visitors to Ng’s booth.

Hong Kong is about to take a small step towards more openness about death with the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment legislation, passed in late 2024 but delayed 18 months to allow doctors and hospitals to prepare. The bill establishes a legal framework for terminally ill patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment. This could be a forerunner for broader engagement and more life and death education.

That said, while there appear to be signs of more openness to discussion, the topic remains sensitive and the pace of change slow. As previously suggested by joint authors of an opinion piece from the think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation, there may be room in life education in schools for a wider focus that includes age-appropriate understanding of subjects such as loss, grief and dying.

That would depend on prevailing community and parental sentiment towards more openness in a rapidly ageing society.