Kwun Tong is one of the earliest developed urban areas in Hong Kong with its planning and development history dated back to the 1950s. The district currently ranks third among the 18 districts in the HKSAR in its percentage of senior citizens population, and therefore the demands for elderly service are relatively high in comparison with other districts. We are conscious of the diverse needs of our senior citizens and are adopting a pragmatic, forward-looking and innovative approach in planning for the provision, enhancement and improvement of the hardware and software for an aging-in-place environment.

Over the years, Government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector as well as local organisations and communities have been joining hands to provide a better living and social environment for senior citizens in the district. With the concerted efforts of the Kwun Tong District Office, the Kwun Tong District Council, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Institute of Active Aging of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a baseline assessment was conducted as part of the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project to explore the age-friendliness of the district with reference to the eight domains within the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Age-friendly Cities Framework. In the process, the overall age-friendliness of the district was evaluated, with a view to adopting a bottom-up and community based approach of intervention, increasing the community participation on the age-friendliness front, and improving general public’s understanding on the concept of age-friendly city. The baseline assessment also provided a solid reference for planning infrastructure, improving facilities, designing social programmes and formulating policies to enhance the age-friendliness of the district.

With the opportunity to joining the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities, we are confident that the coordinated efforts and cross-sectoral collaboration will be further strengthened. To this end, the Community Education Working Group under the Social Services Committee (SSC) of the Kwun Tong District Council has been tasked to oversee the implementation and progress of the three-year action plan formulated in accordance with the eight domains within the WHO’s Global Age-friendly Cities Framework. A platform will also be established with participation of different sectors, stakeholders and local elderly groups to report progress of this action plan and gather ideas in promoting an age-friendly environment in Kwun Tong.