The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) continued to be a vital platform and catalyst in the social service sector. Through strategic initiatives, policy advocacy, cross-sector partnerships, and the adoption of technology, we actively addressed Hong Kong’s complex social challenges, particularly those related to an ageing population and sustainable development, while striving to enhance the quality of services and governance capacity. One of our flagship events, the “S+ Summit cum Expo,” remained a key annual highlight, attracting over 14,000 visits and featuring more than 140 international speakers. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ,  the summit fostered meaningful dialogue on critical issues such as artificial intelligence, youth mental health, workplace wellness, and the silver economy, promoting cross-sector knowledge exchange and inspiring innovative thinking. Another major initiative, the “Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit (GIES),” showcased over 900 products and attracted 35,000 visits. Experts explored the application of smart city technologies and machine learning in elderly care, promoting the adoption of gerontechnology to enhance the quality of life for older adults. Additionally, we championed the “Care Food” initiative by partnering with the catering industry to offer inclusive dining options for individuals with swallowing difficulties, fostering greater community ...

Rapid changes in social, economic, and environmental conditions have led to numerous social needs and opportunities. As a cross-sector collaboration platform, the Council plays a vital role in driving social innovation and responses. This year, we hosted the "S+ Summit and Expo" from a new perspective, employing the "Sustainable Development Goals" as a framework to foster “Synergy,” “Social Impact,” and “Sustainability” in Hong Kong. In addition to a number of renowned scholars and guests from Mainland China, overseas and local communities sharing their experiences in social development, the S+ Summit and Expo attracted the active participation of 6,000 stakeholders from government, welfare, academia, business, foundations, and professional sectors. We also co-hosted a forum with the Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council to explore how to leverage local financial and economic advantages to turn Hong Kong to be a regional philanthropic hub. The philanthropy sector in Hong Kong is thriving, and the Council has been collaborating with charitable foundations, NGOs, and social enterprises to promote service innovation and impact. In the business sector, companies gradually embraced shared value to enhance corporate and social development. In 2023/24, a total of 4,207 companies and organisations received the "Caring Company" or "Caring Organisation" logos ...

The year 2022-23 was full of ups and downs. Hong Kong was ravaged by the fifth wave of COVID which dealt a severe blow to the economy and people's livelihoods. Fortunately the pandemic was finally brought under control, and the city resumed its road to recovery in early 2023. HKCSS and social service organisations had staunchly maintained their watch, mobilizing different sectors to provide assistance to Hong Kong people by launching extensive economic and supportive service projects. In particular, within a very short time we had marshalled social service organisations and collaborated with healthcare professions in launching the “Door-to-Door Vaccination Service”, under which outreach teams visited homes to provide vaccinations to elderly people with mobility problems and people with disabilities. In addition, we continued recruiting nursing & healthcare students to support residential care homes, provided financial assistance to the unemployed and persons with disabilities, subsidized grassroots citizens emotionally disturbed by the epidemic to receive psychotherapy services, and aided social service units affected by the epidemic. All these efforts helped alleviate Hong Kong people’s urgent needs and contributed to the battle against the epidemic. In the long shadow of the epidemic, the Council persevered in implementing many key programmes and prepared diligently ...

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