SWD Celebrates Outstanding Carers at Hong Kong's Care the Carers Campaign Ceremony

2026-01-13 19:34 Last Updated At：01-14 13:33

Care the Carers Campaign - Carer-friendly Commendation Ceremony held today

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) held the Care the Carers Campaign - Carer-friendly Commendation Ceremony at the Hong Kong Science Park today (January 13) to commend outstanding carers as well as neighbours and employers who actively support carers, acknowledge their dedication and contributions, and appeal to all sectors of society to join hands in building a carer-friendly community.

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Care the Carers Campaign - Carer-friendly Commendation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Care the Carers Campaign - Carer-friendly Commendation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau; and the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, the ceremony was attended by around 800 guests, including government officials, Legislative Council Members, District Council members, advisory committee members, representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and district organisations, as well as elderly persons, persons with disabilities and their carers, demonstrating widespread community support and concern for carers.

The territory-wide publicity campaign, Care the Carers Campaign, is now in its third year. Under the theme "Fostering a Carer-friendly Community", the SWD organised a Carer-friendly Commendation Scheme, which comprises three groups - "touching carers", "carer-friendly neighbours" and "carer-friendly employers". The Scheme received over 610 submissions, reflecting an enthusiastic public response. Members of the vetting panel included representatives from government departments, NGOs, academia, the business sector, and district organisations. The list of commendations is in the Annex (Chinese version only).

Mr Sun said at the ceremony that, in addition to ongoing territory-wide publicity efforts, the SWD has implemented various measures in recent years to support carers, including the sequential launch of the Information Gateway for Carers (carers.hk) and the 24-hour Designated Hotline for Carer Support 182 183, enabling carers to seek help at any time. The SWD also rolled out two pilot schemes last July in collaboration with the Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Authority. Through the integration, sharing and analysis of data, these initiatives strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration, identify high-risk cases more effectively and enhance support for them, thereby improving community care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities. The Government will further systematise and expand these databases, with the next phase covering high-risk households in Hong Kong Housing Society units and "three-nil" buildings.

At the commendation ceremony, Mr Sun also highly praised the commended carers, neighbours, and employers. Each of their touching stories embodies compassion, responsibility, mutual assistance and support. He expressed hope that the carer-friendly culture and spirit would take root and continue to grow in the community, building a stronger foundation for carer services in the community, thereby enhancing social cohesion. Mr Sun also pointed out that technology serves as a powerful partner in caregiving, and that making good use of technology products could not only improve the quality of life for the elderly and persons with disabilities but also alleviate carers' burdens. A "Carer Technology Product Gallery" was held alongside the ceremony today, featuring various gerontechnology products suitable for home use and allowing participants to experience them firsthand.

To enhance public understanding of carer support services and related resources, the SWD has produced a short video titled "Support the Carers Take a break and Move on". The short video and three other videos featuring the stories of the commended carers, neighbours, and employers have been uploaded to the SWD's YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@SocialWelfareDepartment).

Hong Kong Launches Second Common Law Training Course Focused on Company Law for Mainland Judges

Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and Supreme People's Court co-organise 2nd edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course

The second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, co-organised by the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy and the Supreme People's Court, is being held from today (January 14) to January 22. Focusing on company law, this edition will guide participants to gain a deeper understanding of Hong Kong's company law framework.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the course today, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that the first edition of this course, which was held in January last year, was the inaugural programme of the Academy after its launch in 2024, and positive results had been achieved. Mr Lam expressed his gratitude to the Supreme People's Court for their continued support and trust in the Academy. He said that the course is a key initiative to implement the national policy of strengthening Mainland judges' ability to handle foreign-related cases, in line with the priorities anticipated in the 15th Five-Year Plan to be announced in March this year.

Building on the inaugural training course, this edition focuses on company law with the participation of 24 senior judges from 22 courts on the Mainland, including the Supreme People's Court and courts from 12 provinces as well as three direct-administered municipalities. The course will feature an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong's robust company law framework through lectures, dialogue sessions and interactive practices on topics such as company structures, guarantees and liquidations. Speakers of the course include Hong Kong's leading legal scholars, experts and eminent judges in the field of company law, who will share their practical insights into Hong Kong's common law system and company law. With the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026 taking place this month, participants will attend this important annual legal event, and visit the courts and international legal institutions in Hong Kong to learn more about Hong Kong's development as a legal hub and a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Academy will continue to leverage the unique advantages of the "one country, two systems" principle and the Hong Kong common law system to organise more capacity-building programmes, thereby promoting judicial and legal exchanges and mutual learning between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and further contributing to the country's efforts to promote the construction of the foreign-related rule of law.

SWD Celebrates Outstanding Carers at Hong Kong's Care the Carers Campaign Ceremony

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