Hong Kong’s autism support services are fragmented. Can the private sector help?

In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities.Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention.The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and tended to cling to repetitive routines, which could trigger distress if disrupted.He said his son rarely initiated interaction with others and struggled to maintain focus.Adding to the family’s burden was the cost of support services for his son, about HK$1 million (US$127,645) a year, including full-day private one-on-one courses and speech therapy sessions.He said the family turned to costly private care after finding public services were under-resourced and had long waiting times, adding his son would have to wait more than a year for a government assessment.