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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (September 15) released the latest concession information for the Senior Citizen Card Scheme. With an additional 198 companies joining the scheme over the past year, the total number of participating companies has reached 2 691.
To enable the elderly, as well as their family members and relatives, to get access to the concession information, the SWD has recently strengthened data dissemination through the Internet and the development of smartphone applications (Apps).
A spokesman for the SWD said, "Apart from encouraging participating companies to provide up-to-date and better concessions to the elderly according to their needs and the changes in the market, the SWD has recently updated the online information more frequently on a bi-monthly basis.
"We also launched the Senior Citizen Card Apps today, allowing service users to get access to the latest concession information through their smartphones at any time and at any place. The Apps are now available on both the iPhone and Android platforms.
"In line with the increasing popularity of smartphones and electronic reading devices, we introduced the Apps with a view to assisting the elderly, as well as their family members and relatives, to select the products and services that elderly people like. They are also conducive to cross-generation relationships as people can make good use of the Apps and the concessions on occasions like social and family gatherings as well as other activities."
Users can download the Apps for free from the iPhone App Store or the Android Market by searching for "Senior Citizen Card".
On the smartphone Apps platform, the concession information is divided into three main categories, namely Government Departments and Public Organisations, Organisations/Companies and Non-Governmental Organisations for multiple districts, and Organisations and Companies by districts. Users can browse through the information according to districts or the types of products/services they need. They can also use the search function and make reference to "What's New" to look for the latest concessions and information on the Senior Citizen Card.
The Apps are available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and English versions to cater for individual needs. A text-to-speech function including Cantonese, Putonghua and English is specially designed to enable elderly people to listen to the names, telephone numbers, addresses and details of the concessions of the participating companies.
The Senior Citizen Card Scheme launched by the SWD in 1994 aims to promote a spirit of care and respect for the elderly. Senior Citizen Cards are issued to elderly people aged 65 or above for them to enjoy a variety of concessions, discounts and priority services offered by government departments, public organisations and private companies. The scheme has been well received by the elderly, companies, organisations and the community. So far, more than 1.2 million Senior Citizen Cards have been issued and over 90 per cent of eligible elderly people in the territory have become cardholders.
There are currently 2 691 companies and organisations, or 7 482 shops and outlets, participating in the scheme. Most of the participants offer shopping concessions (45 per cent), followed by clinics (37 per cent). Others concessions are related to transport and catering services as well as travel and more.
For details of the Senior Citizen Card Scheme, please visit the SWD homepage (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_seniorciti/).
For enquiries, please call the Senior Citizen Card Office at 2961 7581 or 2961 7582.
Ends/Thursday, September 15, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:02
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