Located in Tsing Yi, Ching Fu Jolly Net is redefining community support for the elderly. Subsidised by the Social Welfare Department and operated by Po Leung Kuk, the centre will officially open in mid-March, providing tailored services for seniors and their carers.
As one of three Jolly Net facilities managed by Po Leung Kuk, the centre aims to challenge traditional stereotypes of elderly care. By offering a diverse range of modern and engaging activities, it empowers seniors to lead fulfilling lives within their own communities.
These vibrant programmes have already become a significant draw for local residents, fostering a culture of active ageing.
Before retirement, Mr Sam So (right) navigated the city’s streets as a taxi driver, and now he has found a new outlet in the world of e-sports racing games.
Virtual vistas
After undergoing surgeries on both knees, Mr Sam So could not move and spent his days at home feeling bored. By chance, he saw the Po Leung Kuk Jolly Net nearby. Since they had an e-sports class, he decided to join.
Before retirement, Mr So navigated the city’s streets as a taxi driver and possessed a strong knack for car maintenance. Now, he has found a new outlet in the world of e-sports racing games, where he often outperforms younger players.
“Life is vibrant and colourful now. I teach my friends the techniques I have learned and we play together.
“Everyone is happy. Recently, the centre even arranged for us to compete against some teenagers from Tuen Mun.
“We were lucky enough to win the championship. My friends and I were thrilled,” he added.
The centre's diverse programmes take a holistic approach to wellness, enhancing both the physical health and mental well-being of its members.
Among those benefiting is Ms Lucia Tam. Previously struggling with poor health and requiring mobility assistance to walk, her life took a positive turn after she joined the centre. By actively participating in stretching and yoga classes, she has seen a significant improvement in her physical fitness and now enjoys a clearer, more vibrant mind.
“Discovering the centre had opened was a happy accident and I thought why not give it a try.
“So, I became a member. Now, I never miss a stretching class and I also take part in yoga.
“I have noticed a real improvement in my body. I used to struggle with simple movements and needed help just to walk or sit. Since joining the centre, I have completely set aside all worries.
“This is why I am so eager to take part in activities here.”
Ms Lucia Tam (left) previously struggled with poor health, but her life took a positive turn after joining the centre’s stretching and yoga classes.
Golden opportunities
Po Leung Kuk Assistant Principal Social Services Secretary Rebecca Wong said traditional elderly centres often focus on basic care and social activities. While these services are important, she said they do not fully meet the expectations of younger seniors for growth and development.
“We aim to provide innovative and specialised activities that offer seniors more opportunities to develop their skills, showcase their abilities and achieve self-fulfilment,” she explained.
The centre offers a wide range of physical activities, including yoga classes, mountain climbing, canoeing and pickleball. These programmes are designed to help seniors maintain mobility, independence and overall health, while also providing opportunities to connect with nature.
To support emotional well-being, the centre also provides horticultural therapy, aroma therapy, art work sessions, latte art workshops and wine tasting activities.
These therapeutic programmes aim to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and depressive symptoms, and help participants regulate their emotions.
To foster digital inclusion, the centre organises courses on artificial intelligence applications and e-sports activities. These initiatives empower seniors to keep pace with technological advancements, maintain mental agility through strategic thinking and strengthen their social bonds.
For many participants, Jolly Net is more than just a meeting point; it is a platform where they can showcase their talent, contribute to the community and lead fulfilling lives in their golden years.
Ms Rebecca Wong (left) says traditional elderly centres often focus on basic care and social activities, while they aim to provide activities that offer seniors opportunities to develop their skills.
DEVB teams and its departments achieved outstanding results at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva
The Development Bureau (DEVB) and its departments presented 36 projects at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva and achieved remarkable results by winning 36 awards, comprising the Saudi Innovation Excellence Prize - Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 7 gold medals with the congratulations of jury, 13 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals (see Annex), setting a new record for the number of winning awards.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, today (March 15) extended her heartfelt congratulations to the teams from the Works Branch of the DEVB and its departments, including the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), the Buildings Department (BD), the Water Supplies Department (WSD), the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, and the Highways Department, for receiving multiple awards with their innovative projects at the Exhibition this year. She said, "The DEVB and the works departments have been actively engaging in research and development and applying innovative technologies. Many of the award-winning projects this year have introduced novel solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones, gaining international recognition. These projects not only enhance the quality and efficiency of public services and improve cost-effectiveness, but also set a good example for the industry, driving the wider adoption of innovative technologies across the sector and jointly developing Hong Kong into an international infrastructure centre."
The Crawler-type all-terrain survey robot "T300", which was jointly developed by the DSD and a professional team from the Chinese Mainland, won the Saudi Innovation Excellence Prize - Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This marks the first time a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department has received this prestigious award. Equipped with a zoomable high-resolution camera, LiDAR, and an adaptive lighting system, this robot can capture comprehensive visual and spatial data. Its novel transformable tracked structure allows it to navigate complex and challenging terrain. The robot can simultaneously collect photogrammetric information and point cloud data, enabling the automatic construction of detailed three-dimensional (3D) models of the drainage facilities. Its modular design can also accommodate other sensors, such as the gas detector for monitoring air quality in confined spaces. Inspection data can be automatically uploaded to an AI-powered online condition assessment platform for real-time analysis and rapid generation of inspection reports.
The winning projects of the gold medals with the congratulations of jury are as follows:
1. "FireCheck 4D – A BIM Fire Safety Checker" developed by the BD: This project integrates Building Information Modelling (BIM) automated checking to reform building design and regulatory processes for fire safety compliance, and enables precise spatial analysis and fire protection material tracking.
2. "AI Landslip Warning System" developed by the CEDD: The system applies AI for big data analytics to enhance the accuracy of the predicted number of reported landslides during heavy rainstorms, thereby enhancing its capability for landslide risk assessment and optimising the issuance of Landslip Warning.
3. "CANOPUS - Smart Safety Harness" developed by the CEDD: By integrating Internet of Things (IoT) and worker identification, this system monitors in real-time the behaviour of those who work at height and the environmental conditions, to ensure the workers using the harness properly.
4. "Intelligent occupational health and safety management and monitoring system for confined spaces" developed by the CEDD: This system designed for confined spaces integrates AI vision, gas sensing, ultra-wideband positioning, vital sign monitoring and cloud analytics to deliver continuous detection and instant alerts for abnormal situations.
5. "Personnel real-name system and equipment tracking intelligent software" developed by the CEDD: This software features deep integration of identity verification, high-precision ultra-wideband personnel and equipment tracking, multi-sensor data fusion, electronic permits-to-work (e-PTW), and blockchain-based audit trails. Powered by modular AI technology, the platform enables predictive safety alerts and collaborative emergency response.
6. "i-STAR: Intelligent smart trap analysing robot" developed by the DSD: This robot mainly helps check and verify the structural safety of cover plates. i-STAR integrates artificial intelligence and multiple sensing technologies to monitor in real-time the conditions of cover plates.
7. "AquaMend Rover" developed by the WSD: The robotic crawler designed for urgent water pipeline repairs can navigate inside the pipes to perform welding and maintenance, drastically reducing the working hours of the welders working in the confined spaces.
In addition, the "SmartAERO", a smart drone management platform, which was jointly developed by the DEVB and the CEDD, won a gold medal. The "SmartAERO" enables AI-driven operations to control a fully autonomous drone dock, ensuring smooth, precise and swift drone deployment across diverse environments and in emergency situations.
The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva is one of the most significant global annual events on inventions. This year, the Exhibition was held from March 11 to 15 in Geneva, Switzerland. About 1 000 inventions from 35 countries and regions were evaluated by the international jury of specialists.
DEVB teams and its departments achieved outstanding results at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
DEVB teams and its departments achieved outstanding results at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
