簡介
Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
最新
Wing Yi, Senior Programme Officer at Hands on Hong Kong
How can I get involved in supporting older people in my community? It’s a question that gets asked often, but not enough if we’re being honest with ourselves.
Just saying any one of the words used to describe this population – “elderly” “ageing” “seniors” can evoke a sense of respect and care – or for many – pity and misunderstanding.
In Hong Kong, the elderly population is increasing rapidly. By 2030, it's estimated that one in every five residents will be 65 or older. This demographic shift brings with it a host of challenges—healthcare, social isolation, and financial insecurity are just the tip of the iceberg. Our aging population faces challenges that are both urgent and complex, and it’s time we shine a spotlight on these issues.
Education and awareness are key. We must engage the younger generation, encouraging them to understand and empathise with the struggles of our elderly. Initiatives that promote intergenerational bonding, like community outings and volunteer programs, can bridge the gap. Imagine a young person spending time with an elder, learning life lessons and sharing experiences. Providing companionship and connection. It’s a win-win.
HandsOn developed Generation Connect – a program that pairs up an isolated elderly person with a volunteer family. A 2023 Research Report on the Needs of Grassroots Elderly Households, found that less than 10% of low-income elderly receive regular care from their children. Over half of the elderly we support live alone. The bustling city of Hong Kong, with all its vibrancy, can feel incredibly lonely for those who are disconnected from their communities.
With strong partnership from the Hong Kong Club Foundation, we’ve been running Generation Connect for four years, and have supported 296 vulnerable elderly. Each of these receives love and care from a child and their parent or carer.
This program fosters environments where our elderly have access to caring volunteer supporters. Seniors can engage, share stories, and feel valued. Just recently our volunteer families and their elderly buddies took part in a craft-making workshop together. In the past, they’ve taken trips to the theatre, the farm, and museums.
For some, it’s been the volunteers who have responded to their healthcare needs – helping to book doctor appointments, collect prescriptions, and in one instance being the warm face by their hospital bedside during a more severe health concern. Sometimes, advocating on behalf of an elderly person – helping them to gain access to financial aid, reduce hospital or housing waiting times that they face, or simply raising awareness about their rights and needs within the community is what goes the furthest. We owe this to a generation that has given so much to our city. It’s time we give them something back.
So what can you do? HandsOn is looking for more volunteers to support local elderly individuals – these could be parents and children, or teens who just want to help and gain something too. We realise that no matter the age, connecting generations is the powerful thing about it.
We’re looking for Cantonese, English or Mandarin speakers who can join a six-month program filled with meaningful activities. Volunteers will commit to sharing weekly phone calls, monthly activities, shopping trips and outings with this special group. It’s all supported by HandsOn, and you’ll be part of a wider community of families who are doing the same thing. Find us at handsonhongkong.org.
I’d like to thank our volunteers – all 381 of them who have accompanied us on this shared path already, and invite many more of you to do the same. Together we can not only enrich their lives but also our own.
The song I'd like to request is Al Jolson’s “Sonny Boy” , a dedication to a HandsOn colleague’s Grandpa Ronnie who we said goodbye to this week.
重溫
Jason Fan, Secretary General of the Hong Kong E-Vehicles Business General Association
Good morning. The Hong Kong E-Vehicles Business General Association (“HKEVA”) was established in 2017. “Promoting innovation, nurturing support and professional colleagues” has become our goal. We comprise of a group of elites from the automotive industry, power supply and distribution service providers. In addition, various universities professors and academics are also invited to be our advisory team. We strive to establish a solid platform for discussion as well as providing information and advice to facilitate the building of SMART CITY BLUEPRINT particularly in Smart Mobility with Green environment for better using and running of green vehicle technologies in Hong Kong.
Up to August 2024, there are over 98,000 electric vehicles registered in Hong Kong. It is a noticeable increase in the usage of electric vehicles, especially among private cars. However, comparing with the traditional fossil fuel vehicles, electric vehicles only account for around 10% of the total registered vehicles in Hong Kong.
The “One-for-One Replacement” scheme and the tax concession from the Transport Department are effective measures to move Hong Kong people to switch to electric vehicles. Back in 2018 when the schemes started, there were only around 10,000 electric vehicles in Hong Kong. Therefore, HKEVA would like the Government to continue the “One-for-One Replacement” scheme. The overall electric vehicle penetration rate in Hong Kong is still low at around 10%.
Transportation sector is the second largest carbon emission source in Hong Kong, just behind electricity generation. It accounts for around 18% of carbon emission in Hong Kong. Using electric vehicles can significantly reduce the roadside emission. Therefore, adoption of electric vehicles plays an important part in the carbon neutral policy of the Government.
Another benefit of using electric vehicles other than zero roadside emission is that electric vehicle is efficient. With the relatively low electricity cost in Hong Kong, drivers can enjoy lower fuel cost. In terms of maintenance, with fewer moving parts in the electric vehicles, for example, no gearbox, the maintenance cost for electric vehicle is relatively lower too.
However, charging electric vehicles remains the biggest concern for drivers to switch to electric vehicles as we only have around 9,000 public chargers in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is clear that there is NOT enough public chargers in the city.
For the future electric vehicle development in Hong Kong, HKEVA would like to suggest the following to the Government.
1. Continue the One-for-One Replacement and tax concession schemes. We suggest the Government to relax the requirements on Ownership and Licensed Periods for “Old Private Car” in the scheme so that drivers can join the scheme more easily. Although we recorded significant increase in the number of electric vehicles in private car, the conversation of commercial vehicles to electric remains slow. Commercial vehicles include light goods vehicles, taxis, mini-buses and buses etc... The usage for commercial vehicles is high but there are not enough models in the market for the drivers to choose. Therefore, more direct financial attractiveness is necessary from the Government to encourage manufacturers to develop and import more electric models for commercial vehicles.
2. Build roadside public charging stations over all 18 districts in Hong Kong. This infrastructure enhancement can help solve the charging concerns from the community. It involves works and approvals from different government authorities. Therefore, we encourage the Government to set up an Inter- departmental Working Group to solve the issues arising from the charging infrastructure development. We understand that there is a similar Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel. We suggested the Government to make use of this Working Group to solve the issues arise from electric vehicles development.
3. Battery is one of the key components in electric vehicles. The manufacturing and disposal of used battery are very controversial topics in encouraging the society to switch to electric vehicle. Therefore, the battery recycling industry is a very important element in the electric vehicle supply chain. HKEVA urges the Government to implement the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Retried Electric Vehicle Batteries as soon as possible. We support the Government to manage retired batteries centrally and locally. We also encourage the Government to setup a battery registration and identity system, record all imported battery. This measure increases the battery traceability and encourage recycling and re-proposing. Especially on re-proposing, it gives “second life” to battery and motivate different industrial and commercial innovative applications.
4. With more and more electric vehicle running on the streets, repair and maintenance support on electric vehicles becomes a concern for drivers to switch to electric vehicles. Therefore, it is important for existing vehicle maintenance mechanics to acquire new knowledge and skills on electric vehicles. On training and education, we encourage the government to put more resources in the newly enhanced Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance. Organise more relevant training programs and help existing vehicle maintenance mechanics and workshops to pick up the maintenance and repair works for electric vehicles.
And now I would like to dedicate to all of you a song "獅子山下” by Roman.
