Press Releases

Elderly contest to promote a society for all ages

The promotional programmes of the International Year of Older Persons (IYOP) 1999 will culminate with the final contest for the elderly cum closing ceremony to be held on December 18 this year.

This was announced by the Chairman of the Elderly Commission's Central Co-ordinating Committee for IYOP 1999, Mr Tam Yiu-chung, at a press conference today (Tuesday) to introduce the 15 candidates selected for the final.

The territory-wide Hong Kong Elderly Contest is the latest initiative of a series of programmes to promote IYOP 1999 and the underlying theme of "Towards a Society for All Ages".

It aims to pay tribute to the elderly for their contributions to society and their families, both in the past and at present; to encourage the elderly to play an active role in community affairs and to enjoy a well-earned "golden age"; and to promote understanding among people of different generations in a move towards a society for all ages.

"Therefore, emphasis is placed on the contributions of the contestants to their family and their ability to foster family harmony," Mr Tam said.

The 15 candidates, aged from 66 to 102, are selected from among nearly 500 nominees in contest preliminaries conducted in five regions, including Hong Kong Island and the Outlying Islands; Kowloon East; Kowloon West; New Territories East; and New Territories West.

They will attend the final contest to be held on December 18. The adjudication panel comprises Mr Tam Yiu-chung; Chairmen of the three sub-committees of the IYOP Central Coordinating Committee, Dr Raymond Wu, Mrs Peggy Lam and Mr HuiYin-fat; Professor Iris Chi; and entertainment celebrity Mr Alan Tam.

Mr Tam noted that during the past year, more than 700 programmes had been organised at district and territory-wide levels, drawing the participation of about 300,000 elderly people.

"With the joint efforts of various Government departments and voluntary agencies, we are confident that public awareness of issues related to the elderly has been enhanced.

"The Elderly Commission is considering ways to step up the promotional activities in the coming year so that the message of IYOP can be carried forward to the new century," Mr Tam said.

Also present at today's conference are the Chairman of the IYOP CCC Programme Sub-Committee, Mr Hui Yin-fat, and the Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Eliza Leung.

End/Tuesday, December 7, 1999

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