Death has always been a taboo to the Chinese, but the new generation of elderly people also takes a concern in their own funeral arrangements. An exhibition of new-style coffins – paper coffins – staged by a charity organization drew 500 elderly visitors yesterday. Ignoring the taboo, many touched the coffins with their own hands, praised them for being handsome as well as environmentally friendly, and said they should be adopted. A fearless old couple even got into the coffin by turn, for a taste of their departure. The experience gave them a new appreciation of life. At the thought that they would one day leave this world, they broke down and wept on each other's shoulders. It was a moving scene.

　　"Explore the Paper in a New Dimension: The Paper Art and Casket Expo" displayed a dozen or so imported paper coffins made in China, Korea, Canada. Miss Josephine Lee Yuk-chi, Senior Manager of St. James' Settlement which held the exhibition, indicated that, while Chinese sons and daughters attach much importance to caring for their parents and giving them a proper funeral, death is such a taboo that they seldom talk about it with their parents. She hopes this exhibition will break the taboo. She said, "In fact, it is usually the young who fear death and the taboo. They often avoid discussion of funeral arrangements with their parents, thinking it is a curse that will bring death upon them. They don't talk about it when their parents are healthy and sound, naturally they mustn't mention it when their parents are very sick. Actually many elderly people would like to tell their children what kind of funeral they have in mind."

Experiencing Death in a Virtual Coffin

　　One of the highlights of the exhibition was a Multi-media virtual coffins designed by five graduates of the Multi-Media Technology Master's Degree Program, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mr. Lai Toi-wang, one of the creators, said the entire "Meet In Coffin" process lasts 3 minutes. A person first lies down in the coffin. When the lid is put on, a screen on the under side of the lid will show a virtual video of make-up being put on the deceased, the funeral service and the burial. At the same time, a series of questions are asked, such as "who would you most like to have at your funeral," "who is most important to you." It offers a taste of death.

　　Coffin for rent? At yesterday's "Paper Coffin" exhibition, the most controversial display was a paper coffin from Canada. It comes in two parts: an inner coffin made of paper, and an outer coffin made of oak. As the corpse will only be cremated in the inner coffin, the outer coffin can be rented out again and re-used. But some elderly people did not like that, "How can I take one that somebody else has slept in?"

　　When it's hot, we turn on the air-conditioner as naturally as we switch on the light on entering a room. But to many people air-conditioning is not affordable.

　　Lately, at shopping malls, I find that the few available benches are constantly occupied by elderly people. One day I sat down to chat with them. Only then did I learn that they spend the whole day there, because it's simply too hot at home.

　　For a healthy person, hot weather is at most uncomfortable. To a chronically ill person, it is a matter of life and death. Hot and humid environment is particularly unsuitable to people who suffer from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver and kidney diseases or are taking psychiatric drugs or diuretics. It can depress them and cause deterioration in their condition.

　　People now live a longer life, but that does not mean they are still in good health at 70 or 80. A geriatrician friend often wonders whether saving the lives of these elderly people is good for them, or merely prolonging their misery.

　　Some elderly people have trouble breathing and rely on respirators; others have sleep apnoea and must use CPAP machines. They only get HK$2,000 plus of CSSA each month, yet their electricity bill can be several hundred dollars. They cannot cut down their electricity consumption because they need to keep the machines running to stay alive. Since CSSA does not guarantee the electricity charges, the old people have no choice but to further reduce their spending on food and clothing.

　　St. James' Settlement's ever caring Chan Ping-lun has thought up an Electricity Fund for the Feeble Elderly program which takes donations to help the elderly pay electricity bills. Launched two months ago, the program is giving assistance to close to 20 elderly CSSA recipients, most of whom live in Shamshuipo and Yaumatei. Electricity charge is particularly high on Hong Kong island, but only two or three beneficiaries live there. It must be that poor people simply can't afford to live on Hong Kong Island.

　　Actually St. James' had begun an Electrical Appliances for the Elderly service some years ago. To this day it has sent out over 1,000 electrical fans and refrigerators, but no more than ten air-conditioners. With the refrigerators, the elderly people can keep their food fresh (They often eat the same dish for five or six meals) and reduce the chances of food poison. Electric fans are better than air-conditioners. Even if they had air-conditioners, the old people would not want to turn them on, for fear of the high electricity charges. Compared with life-sustaining machines, air-conditioners are a luxury. It is much more practical to help them pay their electricity bills.

　　If you want to make a donation, please telephone Chan Ping-lun direct, at 8107 8324.