Supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club for the third consecutive year, this year’s Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES) is being held from 19 November to 22 November. Through the exhibition, online summit and workshops, GIES aims to promote gerontechnology application and innovation to enhance the elderly’s quality of life.

The opening ceremony of GIES 2020 was held today (19 November). Guests joining the ceremony included Club Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong; and Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Bernard Chan.

Mr Cheung said: “GIES showcases how we can assist our elderly and enhance their daily lives through the use of gerontechnology. It also serves as a platform to promote knowledge transfer and experience exchange, which are conducive to enhancing the delivery and development of elderly services. These efforts align with the Club’s strategic approach of capacity building and promoting innovation, and reinforce our shared commitment to tackling the challenges of ageing.”

The Club has long supported elderly services as one of its strategic focus areas. It is committed to addressing the challenges of a rapidly ageing society and building Hong Kong into an age-friendly city. Gerontechnology, which involves the application of scientific research and technology to improve the elderly’s quality of life, facilitates ageing in place.

There are around 160 exhibitors at this year’s GIES, showcasing more than 500 local and overseas gerontech products and solutions. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Pavilion, through interactive displays, features several Trust-initiated or Trust-supported projects for the elderly which use information technology. Among them, the Jockey Club Community eHealth Care Project aims to help the elderly better manage their health; while the Jockey Club Caring Communities for Dementia Campaign promotes the use of a mobile tracking system to find those who are missing and help build a dementia-friendly community.

A designated booth also introduces the pilot service model of the Jockey Club ‘age at home’ Gerontech Education and Rental Services, introducing gerontech products as well as the latest rental and maintenance services. The services are supported by the Club’s Charities Trust and implemented by The Hong Kong Council of Social Service with non-governmental organisations.

This year’s online summit was held on 18 November. Various international and local experts, including a representative from the Club, were invited to share the latest developments and applications of gerontechnology as well as to discuss innovative solutions for elderly care through online plenary sessions to improve the elderly’s quality of life.

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 2019/20, the Club contributed HK$19.9 billion in duty and profits tax and HK$0.8 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.5 billion. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also 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.