Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Remarks at question and answer session of Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy press conference Issued at HKT 20:40

The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, held a press conference today (May 27) on measures to be implemented by the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy together with the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong. Following are Mr Cheuk’s remarks at the question and answer session:

Reporter: Some English questions. First, because you mentioned that the Government will encourage post-50s to rejoin the labour market, do you have a target of how many more people above 50 will be rejoining the workforce, and what kinds of jobs or industries should attract the most of these people? And the second question, given the current economic situation of Hong Kong, how do you expect these measures to contribute to the economy and the GDP? And when will you review your measures? Thank you.

Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: I take your questions briefly, and then I see if other colleagues may have anything to supplement. On the possible addition to the labour force, in 2024, the labour participation rate of Hong Kong people above the age of 60 is about 23.7 per cent, while the overall – if you take the whole Hong Kong workforce into account – the labour participation rate is 54.7 per cent. If you look at the figure in 2025 this year, the first quarter, the figure I gave you just now was relating to people above the age of 60, which could go up to as high as 70-something, 80-something. But if you zoom in on the age bracket of 60 to 69, the labour participation rate in the first quarter of 2025 is 38.8 per cent. If you look at the overall labour participation rate and the labour participation rate of this age bracket, it will give you a differential of about 16 per cent. Theoretically, that is the number that we can go for.

Your second question is about how our measures would contribute to GDP growth. I mentioned this in the reply to an earlier question. I think instead of setting a KPI, which actually is not appropriate for this kind of programme, which involves implementation by many outside parties, and the result of which is rather beyond the control of the administration, I think it is more realistic or instructional to look at what we are talking about in terms of what the magnitude of the silver economy is. Worldwide, the practice to measure silver economy is to look at the consumption of the elderly. In 2024, the elderly spending of people aged 60 and above amounted to $342 billion, and in 10 years’ time, it is predicted to grow to $496 billion, that is the kind of magnitude of silver spending. If we can achieve a 5 per cent growth a year, say if we just take the first year as an illustration, that would amount to $17 billion, which is quite substantial.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

CSB and departments hold career talks in Mainland universities Issued at HKT 19:24

The Civil Service Bureau (CSB), together with representatives from the Civil Aviation Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Digital Policy Office are visiting Guangzhou and Wuhan to conduct career talks at Sun Yat-sen University, Jinan University, Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology for four consecutive days starting today (May 27), to provide Hong Kong students studying on the Mainland with information on various positions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.

Speaking at the talk at Sun Yat-sen University today, the Director of General Grades of the CSB, Mr Hermes Chan, said that since 2023, the CSB of the HKSAR Government has been sending delegations to a number of universities and local offices of the HKSAR on the Mainland to introduce the diverse job opportunities offered by the HKSAR Government to Hong Kong students and Hong Kong people residing on the Mainland. In May last year, the CSB held career talks together with various departments for the first time at several universities in Guangdong and Fujian. The briefings are effective, as shown by the continuous increase in the number of applications for civil service positions from Hong Kong students graduating from Mainland universities. He encouraged Hong Kong students with aspirations to serve the community to equip themselves early to join the civil service.

The career talks covered information related to Student Air Traffic Control Officer, Liaison Officer Grade, Analyst/Programmer Grade, Computer Operator Grade, Executive Officer Grade, and other general grades. Information booths, mock skills tests and mock interview sessions were also provided on-site to allow students to experience the recruitment process.

For information on matters related to civil service recruitment, job vacancies and the latest examination arrangements, please visit the CSB website: www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/7.html.

DGCA visits Beijing  
Mr Liu called on the Administrator of the CAAC, Mr Song Zhiyong, and expressed his gratitude for the CAAC’s staunch support to the aviation industry of Hong Kong throughout the years. He also briefed Mr Song on the latest civil aviation developments in Hong Kong to further enhance co-operation. Mr Liu also met with Deputy Administrator of the CAAC Mr Han Jun and representatives from the relevant bureaux, to discuss how to establish closer ties in the areas including civil aviation development, aviation safety and technical co-operation.
 
During the visit, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) signed a Letter of Intent on Strengthening Technical Exchanges and Collaboration in Civil Aviation Safety Oversight, and a Cooperation Arrangement on Strengthening Civil Aviation Science and Technology with the CAAC and the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology (CAST) under the CAAC respectively.
 
In addition, witnessed by Mr Liu and Mr Han, the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China signed a framework agreement to foster co-operation in cadet pilot training. Both flying training organisations were granted with the CAD 509 approval.
 
Mr Liu also met with the Director General of the ATMB of the CAAC, Mr Miao Xuan, to exchange views on further strengthening co-operation in air traffic management, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the aviation industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Mr Liu welcomed the participation of the ATMB in Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 to be held in Hong Kong this December, showcasing the innovative technologies used in Mainland air traffic management.  
 
Mr Liu took the opportunity to visit the Third Civil Aviation Science and Education Innovation Achievement Exhibition and the CAST Aviation Safety Experimental Base to learn about the achievements in innovative technologies and development trends in the Mainland aviation industry.
 
Accompanying Mr Liu to Beijing was the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Air Services and Safety Management), Mr Raymond Ng; the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Management), Mr Hui Man-ho; and the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Airport Standards), Mr Samuel Ng.
 
Mr Liu will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (May 28).
Issued at HKT 18:40

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HKETO, Brussels supports sixth Barcelona International Dragon Boat Festival Issued at HKT 22:38

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