Hong Kong awards elderly volunteers at 2026 'Opportunities for the Elderly' ceremony
Hong Kong's Labour and Welfare Secretary awarded prizes to elderly groups and volunteers at the 2026 'Opportunities for the Elderly' ceremony. Officials highlighted the new Youth-Elderly Mentorship Scheme and noted over 10,000 centenarians in Hong Kong, urging greater community care for the oldest r
The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department held the 2026 “Opportunities for the Elderly Project” award ceremony on 4 November, with Labour and Welfare Secretary Sun Yuk-kwan, Social Welfare Department Director To Wing-keung, Elderly Affairs Committee Chairman Dr Li Kwok-tung, and Project Advisory Committee Chairman Poon Kwong-fai presiding. The ceremony presented 11 special awards, 22 district best awards, and six territory-wide best awards for the 2025-26 one-year plan and the 2024-26 two-year plan, recognising outstanding participating groups and elderly volunteers.
In his speech, Sun Yuk-kwan said the Chief Executive had emphasised promoting active ageing in the First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, announcing the launch of the Youth-Elderly Mentorship Scheme, whose policy philosophy aligns with the project's objectives. He encouraged energetic and skilled seniors to contribute through the Youth-Elderly Mutual Support Network, share their experience, and integrate into society. Combined with the Elderly Academy Scheme and district networks, this policy mix could enhance seniors' self-worth and help them enjoy fulfilling later years, Sun added.
Sun noted that the number of centenarians in Hong Kong had exceeded 10,000. The government and the Elderly Affairs Committee send birthday greetings to centenarians each year, and he called on all sectors to take the initiative to care for centenarians, promoting the traditional virtue of respecting the elderly.
Dr Li Kwok-tung stressed at the ceremony that true “youth” depends on mindset, and seniors' lives should never be limited by age. He said continuous learning and active participation in social affairs are the most effective prescriptions for delaying ageing and maintaining physical and mental health. Seniors' life experience, knowledge, skills, and wisdom are invaluable social assets, he added, encouraging elderly participants to engage in intergenerational activities and become living textbooks for younger generations.
Since its launch in 1998, the Opportunities for the Elderly Project has funded nearly 8,000 programmes, with over 4.7 million participants, including nearly 2.8 million seniors. Through grants to social service organisations, district groups, and educational institutions, the project enables seniors to realise their potential and contribute to society.
The Social Welfare Department has designated the first Thursday of November as “Opportunities for the Elderly Day” since 2020, and 2026 marks the seventh anniversary. On 5 November, elderly volunteers serving as project ambassadors will lead citizens in exercise routines at district senior centres, showcasing seniors' vitality and spreading a positive, active message across the city.