Hong Kong government-funded digital inclusion schemes for older adults

Hong Kong funds digital inclusion for older adults through several government schemes delivered by NGOs and universities, including an ICT outreach programme for care-home, day-centre and home-care clients, the Jockey Club tablet and online support programme for homebound elderly (young volunteers teaching older people), and a Digital Inclusion Programme for the Elderlies announced in the 2024-25 Budget with HK$100 million from the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund.
A 2025 content analysis of 39 programmes under five schemes (2013-2025) found 59.0% taught device operation skills and 84.6% strategic skills such as telehealth and cognitive training, while only 20.5% provided device access through rental or lending and 35.9% introduced devices beyond smartphones. Programmes were linked to health and cognition (33.3%), psychological well-being (25.6%) and community engagement (17.9%). A companion survey of 491 people aged 60+ found they used smart technologies in only 3.1 life domains, with communication dominant at 82.7%.
The evidence describes programme content rather than measured learner outcomes, so impact is unproven; the analysis suggests the divide has shifted from access to extent and flexibility of use.

Read the full analysis: https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/599123