​The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (November 5) held the 2025 Award Presentation Ceremony of the Opportunities for the Elderly Project (OEP). The theme of the event was "Ignite the Fire of Life, Thrive in Fulfilling Ageing.", aiming to inspire the elderly in maintaining physical health and to echo the positive energy emanated from the 15th National Games. The event also featured a variety of games with sports elements and exciting performances, bringing joy to over 800 elderly persons across the territory and award-winning teams, as well as over 4 000 participants who joined the ceremony online. 

     Officiated by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; the Chairman of the Elderly Commission, Dr Donald Li; and the Chairman of the OEP Advisory Committee, Mr Silas Poon, the ceremony presented six Special Awards for one-year projects in 2024-25, 11 District Best OEP Awards, and three Hong Kong Best OEP Awards to commend outstanding teams.

     With the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games nearing on November 9, Mr To said that sports elements were added to the ceremony this year to encourage the elderly to live a vibrant and fulfilling life. He remarked in a brief review of the OEP that nearly 7 500 programmes have been subsidised since its inception in 1998-99, recording more than 4.45 million participants, among whom 2.64 million were elderly persons. Each and every one of them was a successful and inspiring story of active ageing.

     In the ceremony, Dr Li emphasised that the life experience and wisdom of the elderly are actually valuable assets of society. He expressed his hope that elderly persons will stay active and continue to live fulfilling lives. Other than that, Dr Li encouraged the elderly to participate in workshops organised by the Elderly Academy Scheme or elderly centres where they can broaden their social networks and acquire knowledge of gerontechnology to keep pace with the times, thereby improving their physical and mental wellness.

     The OEP encourages elderly persons to develop their potential, continue their contributions to society, and live the spirit of positive ageing through subsidising a diverse range of programmes organised by district organisations. Caritas Elderly Centre - Kwun Tong was awarded the Championship of the Hong Kong Best OEP Award for one-year projects. The project fully demonstrates intergenerational harmony and strengthens community cohesion by directly involving the elderly in organising community cultural tours, ranging from route and attraction planning to telling community members and students about the cultural stories of Kwun Tong. Photography, Teochew culture workshops and community visits were also organised with young people.

     Starting from 2020, the first Thursday of November has been designated as OEP Day by the SWD, and this year marked the sixth edition. OEP Ambassadors, comprising elderly volunteers, will hold exercise sessions at District Elderly Community Centres and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres to show the energetic side of the elderly and promote the active spirit of OEP Day throughout the community tomorrow (November 6).

     For details of the OEP and an archive of the ceremony, please visit the OEP Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OpportunitiesForTheElderlyProject/live).

Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:35

NNNN