Mercer: Hong Kong’s retirement gap is widening — workers must save more themselves

(Editor’s note: this report was originally in English and is rewritten in Chinese per this site’s practice.)

Mercer’s latest retirement outlook warns Hong Kong’s retirement gap keeps widening: MPF contribution levels are low while life expectancy keeps climbing — workers can’t rely on MPF alone for retirement, and should consider MPF voluntary contributions.

How big is the gap?

Low contributions, long lives. The report notes MPF’s 5%-each, HK$1,000-capped contributions fall far short of retirement needs; with Hong Kong life expectancy among the world’s longest, retirees must stretch savings over 20–30 years — tough on MPF compounding alone. Mercer urges workers to plan early: beyond MPF, add voluntary contributions and other savings and investments for extra cover.

What can employers do?

Top up voluntarily, retain talent. The report also suggests employers consider extra voluntary contributions — helping staff plug the gap while standing out in the war for talent. Surveys show the share of employers willing to top up is rising.

To compare funds’ long-term performance and prepare for retirement, visit MPF fund comparison.