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A government programme aimed at enhancing the awareness and knowledge of the elderly on information technology (IT) was launched today (November 10).

The "IT Awareness Programme for the Elderly" was jointly organised by the Information Technology Services Department and the Social Welfare Department.

The programme provides free IT awareness courses with hands-on experience on basic computer operations and surfing on the Internet to elders aged 60 or above.

It is estimated that more than 3,000 elders will benefit from the courses.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the programme today, the Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Lau Kam-hung, said,"The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to promoting the wider use of IT by enhancing the public's awareness and knowledge of IT."

"I am glad to see that, in the past year, many elders have taken their own initiative to learn the use of IT through different channels to achieve life-long education and to enjoy the convenience and interest in daily lives that are brought by the use of IT.

"The major objective of implementing this programme is to enable more of our elders to have the opportunities of knowing and using IT so as to keep pace with the world development," said Mr Lau.

Also officiating at the launching ceremony today, the Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that ensuring our elders would continue to enjoy health and a feeling of worthiness had been one of the government policy objectives since 1997.

Mrs Lam said,"This year, encouraging our elders to acquire the basic knowledge of using computers which will help them adapt to new developments of the society is one of our initiatives to achieve this objective."

"The participants of the IT awareness courses will learn the basic idea of what a personal computer (PC) and the Internet are, the skills of operating a PC and how to browse the Internet for information.

"With a view to maintaining the interest of the participants to continue to learn IT , each of the participants will be awarded a certificate and a badge upon completion of the course," said Mrs Lam.

The IT awareness courses will be held from this month to next March at 15 venues convenient to the elders which are located in five regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon West, Kowloon East, New Territories West and New Territories East.

Each of the participants will be provided with course material and a dedicated PC or workstation with access to the Internet and equipped with all necessary software for hands-on practice.

There will be one instructor and several assistants, equipped with audio and visual training equipment, in each class of the course.

Each course will consist of a half-day session of four hours.

Elders interested in the IT awareness courses can apply through their local Social Centre for Elders and Multi-service Centre for Elders, or the following course providers of respective regions:

- Hong Kong Aged Concern Ltd on Hong Kong Island (covering Central and Western, Islands, Eastern, Wan Chai and Southern districts) at 2230 2063;

- The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Occupational Retraining Centre in Kowloon West (covering Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong districts) at 2712 9165;

- Sheng Kung Hui Diocese Welfare Council in Kowloon East (covering Wong Tai Sin, Sai Kung and Kwun Tong districts) at 2352 3082;

- The Hong Kong Society for the Aged: Chan Tseng Hsi Kwai Chung Multi-Service Centre for the Elderly in New Territories West (covering Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing and Tuen Mun districts) at 2425 1281; and

- Salvation Army Tai Po Multi-Service Centre for the Elderly in New Territories East (covering Sha Tin, Tai Po, North and Yuen Long districts) at 2653 6811 or 2640 8810.

End/Friday, November 10, 2000

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