The Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) today launched the "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders, starting a new chapter in the pursuit of digital inclusion for the elderly.

Among the guests at the launch ceremony were 75 elderly volunteers who joined others to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

The 2024-25 Budget announced that the SIE Fund would allocate $100 million to provide people aged 60 or above with digital training courses and technical support in the coming three years.

Following an open invitation for proposals and evaluation, the SIE Fund has appointed 12 non-governmental organisations, providing them with funding support to take forward the "Smart Silver" programme in the 18 districts.

The appointed organisations will set up help desks at suitable locations to provide regular and fixed-point training on digital technologies and technical support for seniors, particularly singleton and doubleton elders living in old districts and public housing.

The programme covers topics such as smartphone operation know-how, the use of digital government services as well as cybersecurity, with more than 100,000 senior citizens expected to benefit.

Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong said at the ceremony that the Digital Policy Office has introduced a series of initiatives to encourage seniors to learn and use technologies, adding that the Government will press ahead with its work to help more elders.

Game booths have been set up at Lok Fu Place - the venue of today’s ceremony - until tomorrow to introduce related services. The "iAM Smart" mobile registration team will be on hand to help people register for "iAM Smart+" to enjoy the convenience of one-stop e-government services.