To encourage elders to lead a flourishing life, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Elderly Commission jointly launched the Elder Academy Scheme in 2007.

Elder academies set up under the Scheme are characterised by cross-sectoral collaboration, and aim to encourage continuous learning among elders, such that they can widen their social networks, improve physical and mental well-being and foster a sense of worthiness while acquiring new knowledge and skills.

The elder academies put much emphasis on "inter-generational harmony". We encourage young people to participate in voluntary work for the elder academies, such as acting as young teachers or assisting in the operation of the elder academies. Through participating in elder academies, elders can learn new technology and knowledge to keep pace with the times while young people can have more communication with elders and learn from their valuable life experience. More importantly, the Scheme can promote mutual understanding to achieve inter-generational harmony.

Elders are valuable assets to our society. Not only do we encourage them to keep abreast of the times through continuous learning and participate actively in the community, we also hope that they can further take part in the administration and the planning of the curricula and activities of the elder academies to live up to the concept of "active ageing".

With the support of various post-secondary institutions, a number of elder academies have been set up in post-secondary institutions to offer elders an opportunity to "study in the university". I look forward to the setting up of more elder academies in primary and secondary schools as well as post-secondary institutions which will help elders lead a fulfilled and happy life.