The Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies (APIAS) of Lingnan University held a public forum underscoring the theme of “Enhancing Social Participation, From Young to Old” on 26 June 2018 at Ben C.M. Wong Lecture Theatre of Lingnan University.
Over 380 stakeholders, including government departments, academia, social welfare sector, non-governmental organisations, private sector, elderly people and students, took part in the public forum. To kick-start the forum, Mr Leong Cheung, Executive Director, Charities and Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Dr Law Chi-kwong, Secretary for Labour and Welfare delivered their welcoming remarks. Following this was the keynote presentation of Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Vice-President and Director of APIAS, Lingnan University, to share the baseline assessment findings on social participation. Dr Lam Ching-choi, Chairman of the Elderly Commission, also delivered a keynote presentation to share his views on “Enhancing Social Participation, From Young to Old”. In the panel discussion moderated by Professor Mok, panelists from the Government, social welfare sector and elderly representative discussed how to enhance social participation for people of different ages, including older people, with a view to collaboratively building an age-friendly community. The panelists included Mr Ricky Yu, District Social Welfare Officer (Tuen Mun), Social Welfare Department; Ms So Ka-man, Chairman, Social Services Committee, Tuen Mun District Council; Mr Wong Wai-kit, Vice-Chairman, Tsuen Wan District Council; Ms Leung Po-shan, Unit-in-charge, HKSKH Tung Chung Integrated Services (agency representative of one of the organisers of district-based programmes), as well as an elderly representative Ms Tong Kit-ha (Project ambassador).
Exhibition and activity booths were set up alongside with the forum to introduce the Project and age-friendly city concept, showcase the best practices of promoting age-friendly social participation by Lingnan University and other cities, and provide virtual reality experience to encourage older people to take part in social activities.
Activity Highlight Video (Chinese version only):
