In response to the challenges posed by the city’s ageing population trend, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been implementing the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project in Hong Kong’s 18 districts by phases since 2015.  The latest initiative under this project, the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme, was launched today (7 June). It is the first age-friendly scheme in Hong Kong with the combined strength of the business sector, Government departments and public organisations in building an age-friendly city.

The Club’s Executive Director, Charities & Community, Leong Cheung and  Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr the Hon Law Chi-kwong, performed the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme launch ceremony. Also present to support the event were four supporting organisations – The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce – the Scheme’s judging panellists, project partners of the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project, and representatives from Government departments and the business community.

Mr Cheung expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic participation and support from different sectors in co-creating an age-friendly city with the Club. “Our Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme is aimed at encouraging the business sector to introduce more elderly and age-friendly measures, products and services, riding on the silver market opportunities to achieve a win-win situation”, Cheung explained. “We are pleased to have the support of Hong Kong’s four major local chambers of commerce, and look forward to more merchants or organisations joining this scheme.  We hope it will arouse respect and care towards the elderly in society, as well as provide useful information for the ‘young-old’, so as to build an age-friendly city.”

Participating organisations of the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme are required to adopt at least one age-friendly practice, or provide products or services catering to the needs of the elderly. All approved participants will receive a certificate and age-friendly stickers to inform the public of their organisation’s contribution towards promoting an age-friendly culture in Hong Kong. In addition, to recognise organisations that demonstrate outstanding performance in promoting an age-friendly culture, six special awards will be offered, namely the Age-friendly Employer Award, Age-friendly Facilities Award, Age-friendly Innovation Award, Age-friendly Collaborator Award, Age-friendly Business Award and Our City’s Story Award. The judging panel will evaluate participants’ performances based on their creativity and innovation, social impact, resources deployed, sustainability of the project and public voting. Winners will be announced at a recognition ceremony in the first quarter of 2019.

As part of today’s launch ceremony, a forum was staged on the theme “Silver Market – The New Growth Engine for Hong Kong”, at which over 300 guests from different sectors analysed the potential of the city’s silver market and how it could best be developed. Speakers included  Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Bernard Chan; Chairman of the Elderly Commission Dr Lam Ching-choi; and Our Hong Kong Foundation Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute Stephen Wong.

For more information on the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme, please visit www.jccitypartnership.hk.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2016/17, the Club’s total direct return to the community was HK$30.5 billion. It is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer, one of the city’s major employers and one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.