Media

Four HKU death angels report on “encyclopedia of death: death preparation, bereavement support and good death”

06 Jun 2014

Death is the final destiny.  However, traditional Chinese society still has many taboos on the topic of death.  The Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) conducted a survey on the change of death attitude in Hong Kong.  500 questionnaires were collected between January and May 2014.  Results show that the general public’s attitude towards death has changed significantly when compared to seven years ago (2007).  Respondents were also more willing to talk about death. This finding definitely helps the government and the social welfare sector to formulate related public policy.

Death preparation, bereavement support and good death are three important components for death-related research.  “Continuing bond” can be manifested as hearing the voices, seeing the deceased, feeling the touch from the deceased, or even smelling the deceased as a form of sense of presence. All these can be considered as “grief hallucinations”. When general public believes that “the return of the spirits” only happens in traditional Chinese society, many international research finding indicated that “Continuing bond” and “grief hallucination” are not uncommon in other parts of the world.  Are there any problems with “the return of the spirits” or “grief hallucinations”? What is “good death”?  What should be done to prepare for “good death”?

Press members are cordially invited to attend a press conference conducted by the four HKU death angels who are experts in death-related research.  Details are as below:

Date:          June 8, 2014 (this Sunday)

Time:         3:00pm

Venue:       Room 1103, 11/F, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU (Map)

Speakers: 

Professor Christine Fang, Professor of Practice, Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU

Professor Cecilia Chan, Head, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU

Dr Amy Chow, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU

Dr Andy Ho, Research Assistant Professor, Sau Pau Centre on Ageing, HKU

Media enquiry:

Miss Rhea Leung, Manager, Communication and Public Affairs Office (Tel：2857 8555 / 9022 7446 email rhea.leung@hku.hk)

Miss Vanessa Sit, Assistant Registrar, Faculty of Social Sciences (Tel: 3917 1203 / 92678877 email: vansit@hku.hk)