Elderly people encouraged to lead fulfilling life and enhance intergenerational harmony (with photos)
******************************************************

     Elderly people play a vital role in the family, and the Government has always encouraged them to play an active role in creating cohesive families, and to share their rich experience and expertise with younger family members to promote intergenerational harmony and help them lead a flourishing life in their golden years, the Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, said today (October 18).

     Speaking at the 2014 Award Presentation Ceremony of the Opportunities for the Elderly Project (OEP) today, Ms Yip said that the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been subsidising the implementation of the OEP to promote lifelong learning among elderly people and encourage their active participation in social affairs. She also encouraged them to play an active role in maintaining harmonious family life and to contribute to society.
 
     Ms Yip said, "Since the launch of the OEP in 1998, over 4 100 district programmes with more than 2.6 million participants have been subsidised, and the total amount of subsidy exceeds $42.5 million. More importantly, many elderly persons have not only benefited from the project but have also become actively involved in helping organisers to plan and implement activities. More than 5 000 elderly volunteers are now participating in the project every year."

     In addition to launching the OEP, Ms Yip pointed out that the Government has also initiated measures to support elderly persons in various different ways. These include the implementation of the concessionary $2 fare scheme; the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly; and the two-year Pilot Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of Elderly Persons from Low Income Families; upgrading 51 social centres for the elderly to neighbourhood elderly centres; and recruiting additional social workers for all subvented elderly centres to enhance support for elderly people as well as processing care needs assessment and service applications for long-term care services.

     Ms Yip also announced that the SWD will launch the 20th Anniversary Promotion Programme of the Senior Citizen Card Scheme on November 16, which is International Senior Citizens Day. On that special day, over 900 food outlets will offer special concessions to senior citizen card holders to enable elderly people to enjoy delicious meals together with their family and friends.

     Other guests of honour who attended today's award presentation ceremony included the Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Professor Alfred Chan, and the Chairman of the OEP Advisory Committee, Dr Lam Ching-choi.

     Organised by the Working Group on OEP of the SWD, the event aims to enhance intergenerational harmony, promote respect and care for elderly people, and commend organisations that have outstanding performance in implementing the OEP one-year and two-year projects. Schools that have joined the School Promotion Project in the past two years are also commended.

Ends/Saturday, October 18, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:37

NNNN