Digital Inclusion Program Empowers Elders with Technology Training and Support

"Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders well received

To help elderly people integrate into the digital era and enjoy the benefits brought about by digital technologies, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) launched the "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders (the Programme)in December 2024 to provide elderly people with digital training courses and technical support. A spokesman of the DPO today (May 6) noted that the Programme has received support andwidespread participation from the elderly since its launch, with accumulative attendance for digital training and technology support services exceeding 24 000.

The Programme provides funding support to 12 district service organisations to set up a total of 40 community-based help desks across all 18 districts, and to provide regular and fixed-point training on digital technologies and technical support for elderly people aged 60 or above, particularly singleton or doubleton elderly people living in old districts and public housing. The implementing organisations use an easy-to-understand approach to encourage the elderly to learn how to use practical mobile applications and digital services in their daily lives. This includes using popular government mobile applications such as "iAM Smart", eHealth, HA Go and My SmartPLAY as well as learning about cybersecurity, assisting the elderly in enhancing their ability to use digital technologies more effectively and appropriately.

To further strengthen the current work on digital inclusion for elderly people, the DPO will proactively co-ordinate and consolidate the "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders along with its digital inclusion measures, such as the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Outreach Programme for the Elderly, the Enriched ICT Training Programme for the Elderly and mobile digital service stations to achieve greater synergy among various programmes. For instance, elderly people who have completed the basic training on digital technologies at the community-based help desks will be introduced to participate in the Enriched ICT Training Programme for the Elderly if they seek to deepen their digital knowledge and enhance their digital capability. They can also serve as volunteers in the activities of the ICT Outreach Programme for the Elderly to introduce the use of digital technologies to other elderly people. Coupled with the online learning modules of the Elderly IT Learning Portal, the DPO comprehensively addresses the needs of the elderly in learning digital technologies.

"The DPO will continue to expand its regional collaboration network and encourage the implementing organisations of the 'Smart Silver' programme to bring together different sectors of the community, such as the District Services andCommunity Care Teams, the Senior Police Call, the innovation and technology industry and professional organisations, in the course of implementing the digital inclusion initiatives to benefit more elderly people. At the same time, the DPO actively reaches out to various District Councils (DC) to introduce the programme details, encourage collaboration among DC members, and leverage their community networks to further engage more elderly people, thereby enhancing the programme's social impact. The DPO hopes that members of the public will actively encourage the elderly around them to participate in the digital inclusion activities of the Programme, and join hands with the Government to promote the adoption of digital technologies by the elderly, so as to build a digitally inclusive and caring society," the spokesman added.

For relevant details about various programmes of "Smart Silver", please visit the DPO website (www.digitalpolicy.gov.hk/en/our_work/digital_government/digital_inclusion/).

"Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders well received Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders well received Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders well received Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

"Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders well received Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Government announces updates on follow-up work on Tai Po fire

The three task forces set up by the Government for the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po - the Task Force on Investigation and Regulation, the Task Force on Emergency Support and Fund-Raising, and the Task Force on Emergency Accommodation Arrangements - are making full efforts to follow up on the support, relief, and investigation work related to the incident. Details are as follows:

Financial and welfare support

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For the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the Government, donations received are about $3.4 billion as of noon today (December 13). With the start-up capital of $300 million from the Government, the fund's total has now reached around $3.7 billion. The fund will be used to assist residents in rebuilding their homes and providing long-term and sustained support.

Accommodation support

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As of this morning, a total of 1 392 residents have been accommodated, through the co-ordination of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, in youth hostels, camps, or hotel rooms. Another 3 163 residents are currently living in transitional housing units provided by the Housing Bureau or units from the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS).

In consideration of the extremely urgent situation of the residents affected by the fire incident, a special arrangement of a full rent exemption has been made earlier by the Housing Bureau to provide accommodation support to those affected residents moving into transitional housing or HKHS projects. In other words, if needed, the affected residents can stay for a longer period of time. The Government will continue to support the affected residents in terms of accommodation, and the residents in need do not have to worry about the relevant rental expenses or the duration of stay.

In addition, staff from the operating organisations of transitional housing and HKHS, as well as volunteers have been working around the clock to furnish the units with essential supplies. Taking Eminence Tower in Hung Shui Kiu as an example, each unit is equipped, upon move-in, with furniture and appliances such as bed frames, mattresses, pillows, cooking stoves and water heaters. Daily necessities including toilet paper, slippers and basic cleaning supplies, etc. are also provided. Such efforts are intended to help the affected residents settle in as quickly as possible.

At the same time, a number of organisations have proactively stationed their staff in some projects to provide residents in need with various forms of support, including free medical and legal consultation services. The Government has also set up service stations in 18 projects where more residents have moved in, providing consultation and support services for residents in need, standing together with them.

Relief supplies and donations

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The supplies donation online platform, established by the Government and the information technology sector, continues to operate, facilitating the registration of supplies donations from organisations and the public. The Government has so far received over 1 800 registrations, of which approximately 30 per cent were submitted by organisations, whereas the others were contributed by the public. The various registered donation items include food and beverages, clothing, daily necessities, bedding, and electrical appliances. The Government is actively assessing residents' actual needs through the relevant policy bureau, government departments, and service organisations for the matching of donated supplies in order to distribute appropriate items in phases to places in need. So far, about 19 600 donation items covering various categories have been distributed to different places. The matching and distribution of supplies will continue.

Regulation and inspection work

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The Housing Department today continued to remove the burnt scaffolding on the external walls of Wang Cheong House, Wang Tai House and Wang Sun House. As the environment at scene is narrow and the scaffolding and the protective nets of individual buildings may be subject to more serious damage, for the sake of safety, the Housing Department will conduct assessments with the Police on the timetable of removing the scaffolding of the remaining four affected buildings. In addition, the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Bureau has also completed the extraction of concrete core samples from the seven affected buildings at Wang Fuk Court today.

The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced on December 11 a new mechanism for sampling and testing scaffold nets for external walls in Hong Kong. The Buildings Department is preparing for the issuance of a new practice note to registered contractors and will meet with the industry next week. The DEVB is moving ahead in full steam the supporting arrangements to ensure that there are sufficient designated laboratories and a suitable site for off-site sampling work.

Source: AI-found images