Teddy Collins relates his discovery of the advantages of becoming a senior citizen in the Orient.
I was 65 years old at the end of January and took little note of it until I had to go to Hong Kong for a meeting in February. On arrival at the passport control desks I noticed large queues and one with no queue. I presumed it was the VIP diplomatic channel but as I came closer I saw it had a notice saying “Over 65.” I headed for it at once and was whisked through in a jiffy, with a smile from the official to welcome me to Hong Kong.
Things got better from then on as I was informed that any visitor to Hong Kong can obtain a senior citizen travel card and use it to get half price travel. I cashed in my normal travel card and got the special senior travel card. I was prepared to be asked to produce my passport to prove my age but the official just looked at my grey and balding head of vanishing hair and handed me the card without comment.
One of the most famous tourist ‘musts’ in Hong Kong is a trip across the bay from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island on a Star ferry. There are two decks, upper and lower. The upper costs 25c and the lower, where the engines are located costs 15c. There was a riot about 30 years back when the ferry company announced they were raising the fares, and the company had to maintain existing fares.
The ferry also was used by a newspaper cartoonist when President Clinton visited Hong Kong as president during the Lewinsky affair. Each ferry is named with a star in the title so you have Morning Star, Evening Star. The cartoonist showed Clinton aboard with the ferry named Kenneth Starr! He was the special prosecutor who pursued Clinton relentlessly.
Well now for the good news. A senior citizen can travel on the ferry free of charge. The only disadvantage is that you have to enter by the gate marked ‘Disabled Entrance’. The benefits of age continued when I visited Hong Kong City Hall for an orchestral concert. On enquiring of the cost of tickets, I was asked if I was over 65? When I admitted I was, I was told by the lady at the ticket desk that I could have a ticket at half price as a senior citizen. I don’t know if the same applies to cinema tickets but I will ask next time I go.
The Latin Americans refer to being over 60 years of age as ‘la tercera edad’ or the third age. It sounds so much more attractive than old age. In Chinese society the elderly traditionally are given great respect and maybe this is why Hong Kong is so generous with benefits for senior citizens. Of course Charlie Haughey, former prime Minister of Ireland in the 1980’s saw this years ago when he introduced free travel and other benefits for seniors in Ireland.
The only reservation I have is that now that I have free passage on the Star Ferry, I’m wondering how long it will be before I get a free passage to eternity.
Meanwhile I’m off to the Irish Embassy to renew my passport - free of charge now that I can tick the ‘Over 65’ on the application form.
Fr Teddy Collins SSC teaches in China.