The three-day Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES) successfully concluded today (June 18), having received an enthusiastic public response. The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man; the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Frank Chan; the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Mrs Fanny Law; and the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), Mr Chua Hoi-wai, officiated at the Closing Ceremony today together with other guests.

     Offering his congratulations on the successful organisation of the event, which drew positive comments from sectors across the community, Dr Ko said he would like to see the momentum in caring for the elderly be sustained in the community and called on the young generations to come up with innovative solutions on enhancing elderly persons’ quality of life.

     More than 43 000 people visited the three-day GIES, showing great local interest in technological and innovative advancements. The Summit served well as a platform for exploring various issues regarding ageing in the technological era from angles including social care and healthcare.  Speakers and the audience engaged in constructive and interactive exchanges.

     To follow up on the GIES, the HKCSS and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will organise a design competition targeting youngsters to encourage them to use their creativity to help improve elderly persons’ daily living. A series of roving exhibitions on selected products will be held in various districts in the coming year. The HKSTP will also launch a challenge named Silver Innovators in the fourth quarter this year in which winners of the competition will be provided grants and other support to transform their relevant innovative concepts into prototypes.
   
     The GIES was the first large-scale event of its kind led by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to showcase new technology products developed in various places worldwide and explore strategies of applying technology and innovation to enhance quality of life for the elderly.

Ends/Sunday, June 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:05

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