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Hong Kong is facing a rapidly ageing population, and it is estimated that almost 1 in 3 people will be aged 65 or above by 2040.

In response to the challenges posed by this trend, the Club’s Charities Trust has been implementing the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project in Hong Kong's 18 districts by phases since 2015.  The latest initiative, the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme, was launched on 7 June.

It is the first age-friendly scheme in Hong Kong to combine the strengths of the business sector, Government departments and public organisations in arousing respect and care towards the elderly in society, as well as providing useful information for the 'young-old', so as to build an age-friendly city.

The Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme is aimed at encouraging the business sector to introduce more elderly and age-friendly measures, products and services, riding on the 'silver market' opportunities to achieve a win-win situation. Participating organisations are required to adopt at least one age-friendly practice, or provide products or services catering to the needs of the elderly. All approved participants will receive a certificate and age-friendly stickers to inform the public of their organisation's contribution towards promoting an age-friendly culture in Hong Kong.

In addition, to recognise organisations that demonstrate outstanding performance in promoting an age-friendly culture, six special awards will be offered, namely the Age-friendly Employer Award, Age-friendly Facilities Award, Age-friendly Innovation Award, Age-friendly Collaborator Award, Age-friendly Business Award and Our City's Story Award.

The judging panel will evaluate participants' performances based on their creativity and innovation, social impact, resources deployed, sustainability of the project and public voting. Winners will be announced at a recognition ceremony in the first quarter of 2019.

Four of Hong Kong's major local chambers of commerce – The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce – have given their support to the initiative and look forward to more merchants or organisations joining this scheme.

As part of the launch ceremony on 7 June, a forum was staged on the theme "Silver Market – The New Growth Engine for Hong Kong", at which over 300 guests from different sectors analysed the potential of the city's silver market and how it could best be developed. Speakers included the Club's Executive Director, Charities & Community, Leong Cheung; Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service Bernard Chan; Chairman of the Elderly Commission Dr Lam Ching-choi; and Our Hong Kong Foundation Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Institute Stephen Wong.

For more information on the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Partnership Scheme, please visit www.jccitypartnership.hk.