The rapid ageing of economically successful Asian societies is a phenomenon of the last years of the 20th century that will dominate the first decades of the 21st century. In this process, Japan is the leader, closely followed by the 'tiger" economies - Hong Kong. Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea - and the fast growing South-East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The sleeping giant is Chinese population ageing, which has the potential to dwarf the experiences of other countries.

The social and economic adaptation that has occurred over a century or more in European countries will occur over only 20 or 30 years in Asian countries due to the rapidity of ageing. The trauma associated with rapid social change will be a potential cost of economic development. The ageing drama is being played out against the background of a strong perception that Asian values, such as those related to family support, are being bulldozed by impaired, Westernised patterns of institutional aged care.

One of the barriers to identifLing what is common and what is specific to different cultures in dealing with ageing, is the absence of a local tradition of research on ageing. In the first phase of the development of country-specific research the tendency is for researchers to train overseas and to use methods and questions derived from international work The US has been particularly powerful in developing gerontological research in the Asia Pacific region. In the past the 'Asian voice' has been faint in this US influenced work

At the recent International Association of Gerontology Asia-Oceania Regional meeting in Hong Kong, much excellent research emerged. The editors of the two premier English language journals on ageing in the region decided to showcase this regional research with an Asian flavour. The decision was made to publish the papers in a joint issue of the two journals.

Reading the papers from Japan, India, Taiwan and Korea, you will appreciate the excellence of the work by international standards and the growing Asian flavour of the work While there is convergence in methods being used around the world, there is a growing independence in the questions asked and the answers provided. With the rapidity of population ageing in the region, there is now a stronger need that ever before for indigenisation of gerontological research.

John McCallum Edilor Australian Journal on Ageing

Edward h u n g Editor Hong Kong Journal of Geronrology

BRIEFINGS

1997 World Congress of Gerontology From August 19th to 23rd next year, up to 3,000 health professionals, educators, researchers, planners, managers and other experts in age-related fields will converge on Adelaide for the 1997 World Congress of Gerontology. This is the first time the event has been held in the Southern Hemisphere. The UN, the World Health Organisation and the World Bank will be prominently represented, along with other international agencies, to participate in discussion and debate by key decision makers influencing the future systems of care for the elderly. President of the Congress, Professor Gary Andrews, said recently: T h e Congress will consider at all levels the impact of ageing - a field which is throwing up profound challenges as life expectancy increases among general populations, while resources currently directed to proper care of the elderly are already severely stretched." Professor Andrews said that pre-Congress meetings would be held in Honolulu (16-18 August) and Singapore (17-19 August). Each was expected to attract up to 800 delegates, many of whom will travel on to Adelaide for the major Congress. In Adelaide, several linked pre-Congress national meetings are planned. These inlcude those of the Australian Society of Geriatric Medicine, Geriaction (The Australian Geriatric Nursing Association) and the Alzheimer's Association. They will share a number of sessions with the World Congress. The' Registration Package and Call for Papers has been released. Please call the Congress Secretariat to register your interest and be placed on Congress mailing list. Contact details follow. Contacts: Professor Gary Andrews, Congress President

Ms Christina Hagger, Congress Executive Officer Secretariat: 1997 World Congress of Gerontology,

Science Park, Bedford Park, SA 5042. Telephone: (08) 201 7572 (aRer 30 Sept 1996: (08) 8201 7572). Facsimile: (08) 201 7551 (after 30 Sept 1996: (08) 8201 7551). E-mail: lagcongress@flinders.edu.au World Wide Web: http//cme~.ccflinders.edu.au/congress/intro.html

i0 Australian Journal on Ageing, Vol 15, No. 2, 1996