Due to extended life expectancy and low fertility rates among its population, Hong Kong is facing a formidable demographic challenge brought about by ageing. This has exerted great pressure on Hong Kong’s health and social care systems, especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed the extent to which existing systems fail to fully address the changing needs of older adults. According to the World Health Organization, chronic diseases are replacing traditional infectious diseases as the leading cause of disability and death in the world. Around 2.2 million people in Hong Kong live with chronic diseases, of whom almost 60% are older adults. Ageing is the main risk factor for most chronic diseases, such as stroke, diabetes and heart disease. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases increases the demand for long-term care (LTC). Coping with the increasing need for LTC requires health promotion, disease prevention and disease management in the community, all of which are currently inadequate to meet the needs of the older population. In Hong Kong, the future development of the healthcare system will shift from a treatment-oriented to a prevention-oriented regime through a community-based primary healthcare system. How to bridge the gaps between health and social care to ensure a sustainable LTC system is an urgent question for policymakers and service providers. An integrated care system for a seamless continuum of care is needed, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.