Successful promotion of positive ageing marked at CADENZA 18-District programme finale

13 July 2010

To promote positive ageing and equip the soon-to-be-old with knowledge that can help them continue to live an active and positive life, the CADENZA 18-District Programme - a citywide public education initiative jointly organised by CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors and Radio Television Hong Kong - has been taking place in each of Hong Kong's 18 districts in turn since January 2009. 

Today (13 July), a closing ceremony for the programme, which also served as the 18th and final event in Central & Western District, was staged at Hong Kong City Hall in Central.  The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan joined Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang, Elderly Commission Chairman Dr the Hon Leong Che-hung, Director of Broadcasting Franklin Wong, Dean of Social Sciences at The University of Hong Kong Prof Ian Holliday, CADENZA Project Director Prof Jean Woo, representatives of the 18 District Councils and radio and TV artistes to mark the conclusion of a highly successful initiative.

Dr Chan said he was delighted that the CADENZA 18-District Programme has achieved its target of promoting positive ageing to thousands of seniors citywide through the previous 17 district programmes and supporting radio broadcasts.  He attributed the success to the wide-ranging skills and knowledge of the participants, who included academics, healthcare professionals, artistes and RTHK staff.  He also thanked the 18 District Councils for their active support in helping to spread valuable health, medical and lifestyle tips to local residents.

"Public education is an important aspect of the CADENZA project and we will continue to organise further activities of different types and in different areas," Dr Chan promised.  "I hope you will all keep supporting CADENZA so as to make Hong Kong a more elderly friendly city and encourage positive ageing."

Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang thanked the Trust for its long-term support over the years to promote the elderly's well being, saying it set a good example for others to follow.  "The CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors project, initiated by the Charities Trust and with the collaboration of The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, specifically addresses the needs of the elderly and promotes positive ageing through a series of scientific studies and training programmes," he said.  "It is also aimed at enhancing elderly care and their quality of life, something which the Government is also aiming to achieve in terms of providing seniors with a sense of security, creating a sense of belonging and a feeling of health and worthiness."

A popular feature of each event in the CADENZA 18 District Programme has been the participation of radio and TV celebrities, performing artistic demonstrations to highlight the positive ageing and healthcare messages.  A number of the performers from previous district events joined today's ceremony including Lee Hong Kum, Tam Bing Man, Helena Law, Tse Suet Sum, Chow Chung, and Ella Koon who shared health tips with the audience.

Fellow artistes Sherman Chung, Eunix Lee, Charmaine Fong, Tat Dik, Hotcha and Square were also on hand to demonstrate a range of stylish new outfits for older people designed by postgraduate students from the Institute of Textiles & Clothing at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as part of a New Ageing Image Contest.  A judging panel including Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association Walter Ma, celebrity Michael Wong and top model Vanessa Yeung selected the winning designs for Creativity Awards and Professional Awards.

Members of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team and representatives from Pok Oi Hospital Chan Ping Memorial Neighbourhood Elderly Centre were also at the event to demonstrate the "Hong Kong Can Do Exercise", a series of ten wing chun routines specially commissioned by The Hong Kong Jockey Club as part of its 125th Anniversary celebrations, with the aim of injecting a sense of positive energy into the community.

Highlights of the programme will be broadcast on RTHK Radio 5's "Brilliant Life" at 4:00 pm on Friday 23 July.

The CADENZA 18-District Programme is a citywide public education initiative aimed at promoting positive ageing and equipping the soon-to-be-old with knowledge that can help them continue to live an active and positive life.  Since January 2009, a monthly programme of public interactive events and activities has been taking place in each of Hong Kong's 18 districts in turn, featuring a wide range of information for seniors.  Topics covered have included healthcare issues, medical and social services, living environment tips, financial and legal arrangements, distribution of medical resources and end-of-life treatments.  Further details of the programme are available at: http://rthk.hk/special/cadenza.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million in 2006.  The project aims at nurturing academic leadership in gerontology and changing the mindset and attitude of the general public through a range of training and public education programmes.  Cross-sectional collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes are also encouraged in order to bring about a new mode of elderly care services to prepare for a rapidly ageing society.  Details of CADENZA are available at www.cadenza.hk.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.