The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, this afternoon (June 25) visited Sai Kung District, where he called at an elderly centre, visited a renovation project for a community facility and met with members of the Sai Kung District Council (SKDC).

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the SKDC, Mr George Ng, and the District Officer (Sai Kung), Mr David Chiu, Mr Chan visited Caritas Elderly Centre – Sai Kung to learn about its services and operation. Last year ,the centre received funding support from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) to launch the "You Net! I Net!" Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Outreach Programme for the Elderly. With support from professional social workers and volunteers, dementia patients and "hidden" elderly persons can receive encouragement and assistance in adopting ICT to broaden their social circles, build up their self-confidence and integrate into the community.
     
     Mr Chan said that, to cope with the ageing population and to encourage wider adoption of ICT among the elderly, the Government launched the ICT Outreach Programme to support projects to improve access, knowledge, skills and receptiveness on the use of ICT among elderly people. The ICT Outreach Programme has been regularised from 2018-19 onwards. In addition, the OGCIO launched the Enriched ICT Training Programme for the Elderly in February this year to promote digital inclusion among the elderly at different levels and serve more senior citizens.

     Mr Chan then visited the renovation project of Sai Kung Jockey Club Town Hall. In the 2018-19 Budget, $8 billion was assigned to improve facilities in 18 districts. The renovation work is the designated project for Sai Kung District under the scheme. The project is expected to complete by the first quarter of 2020.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Chan met with members of the SKDC to exchange views on various livelihood and development issues in the district.

Ends/Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Issued at HKT 18:33

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