Elderly Empowerment Celebrated at 2026 Opportunities for the Elderly Project Award Ceremony

2026-11-04 18:40 Last Updated At：19:53

2026 OEP Award Presentation Ceremony promotes active ageing and intergenerational harmony

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (November 4) held the 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony of the Opportunities for the Elderly Project (OEP). Adopting the theme "Maintain a Youthful Heart, Create Miracles in Your Golden Years", the event aimed to inspire elderly persons to sustain curiosity and passion for the world, break through age barriers and continue to create their own miracles in the next chapter of life. Apart from an array of games and performances, the ceremony also featured a range of interactive sessions, bringing joy to over 800 elderly persons, volunteers, and award-winning teams across the territory, alongside around 5 000 participants who joined the ceremony online.

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2026 OEP Award Presentation Ceremony promotes active ageing and intergenerational harmony (with ohotos) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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2026 OEP Award Presentation Ceremony promotes active ageing and intergenerational harmony (with ohotos) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; 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 11 Special Awards for one-year projects in 2025-26 and two-year projects in 2024-26, as well as 22 District Best OEP Awards and six Hong Kong Best OEP Awards to commend outstanding organisations and elderly volunteers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Sun stated that the Chief Executive had particularly stressed in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address to further promote a sense of worth among the elderly through the launch of the Young-Old Mentorship Programme. Its policy intent actually aligns with the core purpose of the OEP. He encouraged vibrant and multi-skilled young-olds to make the most of their talents, share their experiences and integrate into the community through mutual support networks. Coupled with the Elderly Academy Scheme and district network collaboration, such a policy combination can further enhance the elderly's sense of self-worth and realise active ageing. Quoting the fact that the number of centenarians in Hong Kong has exceeded 10 000, Mr Sun further added that the Government and the Elderly Commission extend birthday greetings to centenarians every year as a sign of respect. He encouraged all sectors of society to proactively show care for centenarians, thereby promoting the traditional virtue of respecting and caring for the elderly.

In the ceremony, Dr Li emphasised that true "youthfulness" depends entirely on one's mindset and the lives of elderly persons should never be bound by age. He pointed out that continuous learning and active social engagement serve as the most effective prescription for delaying cognitive decline and maintaining physical and mental wellness. Elderly persons possess a wealth of life experience, knowledge, skills and wisdom which are indeed a priceless asset to society. Dr Li encouraged elderly persons to actively take part in intergenerational exchange activities and lead by example for the younger generation in living a rewarding "second life" with an optimistic and resilient attitude.

Since its inception in 1998, the OEP has subsidised almost 8 000 programmes and recorded over 4.7 million participants, among whom 2.8 million were elderly persons, yielding highly encouraging results. By funding social service agencies, district organisations and educational bodies to host a diverse range of activities, the project has been enabling elderly persons to unlock their potential, contribute to society and live the spirit of positive ageing.

Starting from 2020, the first Thursday of November has been designated as OEP Day by the SWD, and this year marked its seventh edition. OEP Ambassadors, comprising elderly volunteers, will lead citizens in exercise sessions at various elderly centres across the territory tomorrow (November 5) on OEP Day. This initiative aims to showcase the energetic and thriving spirit of the elderly to the entire city, spreading the messages of positivity and active living to every citizen.

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

ACWS Delegation Visits Guangdong to Enhance Water Security for Hong Kong

Advisory Committee on Water Supplies begins visit to Dongjiang Water Supply System in Guangdong

The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies:

A delegation of the Advisory Committee on Water Supplies (ACWS) departed for Guangdong Province this morning (November 4) to begin a two-day visit to the Dongjiang (DJ) Water Supply System and learn about the latest developments of matters in relation to the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong.

This morning, the delegation visited the Gaoxinsha Reservoir in Nansha, Guangzhou, to see the Pearl River Delta Water Resources Allocation Project. The project, commissioned in 2024, diverts water from the Xijiang River to the eastern part of the Pearl River Delta, providing a new water source for Nansha of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan and other regions, and enabling the DJ and Xijiang Rivers to complement each other. The Committee was pleased to learn that the project will help relieve the demand for DJ water in the cities along the DJ River's course, and will also provide an emergency backup source of water for Hong Kong, thereby enhancing the water security of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and optimising the region's water resources allocation capabilities.

In the afternoon, the delegation proceeded to the Greenway in Huizhou, which runs along the banks of the DJ River, to observe the quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong at a close distance and to receive briefings from the relevant Guangdong authorities on the water quality protection measures. The delegation then visited the DJ River Basin Water Quantity and Quality Monitoring and Control Centre in Huizhou to learn how the Centre leverages an advanced intelligent platform for real-time control of water supply facility operations as well as close monitoring of water quality along its course. The Committee considered that the intelligent platform adopted by the Centre can effectively enhance operational efficiency and incident response capabilities, thereby further safeguarding the stable supply and water quality of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong.

The delegation will continue its visit tomorrow (November 5) to inspect the intake point of the DJ water supplied to Hong Kong in Dongguan and various major operation points downstream, and to meet with local government officials. The visit will conclude tomorrow afternoon, with the delegation returning to Hong Kong thereafter.

The terms of reference of the ACWS are to advise the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the Director of Water Supplies on matters relating to water supplies, including water resources, network management, regulation and control of inside services, water conservation and other operational matters. Its membership comprises academics, green advocates, professionals, representatives from the trade, and officials from related government departments and bureaux.

Elderly Empowerment Celebrated at 2026 Opportunities for the Elderly Project Award Ceremony

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