Latest news with #Friends&Flavours
RTHK
28-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Elderly 'key to taking economy to next level'
Elderly 'key to taking economy to next level' Algernon Yau says it is crucial to attract the silver-haired population to spend locally. File photo: RTHK. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said on Wednesday it is crucial to make it appealing for the silver-haired population to spend locally. Yau made the remarks a day after the government announced 30 measures to further develop Hong Kong's silver economy, such as having restaurants roll out dishes that suit the needs of the elderly and offering them exclusive discounts at expos. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, he said the SAR has to actively tackle the challenges brought about by its ageing population in ways that will also lead to opportunities. With Hong Kong facing a need to restructure its economy, Yau said this demographic offers new stimulus capable of boosting overall economic development. "We hope that industries will develop more products for the silver market, so elderly people can have a comfortable living environment in Hong Kong," he said. "So when they go out, the places they go to will have the products they want and the food they may want to eat" Yau added that as caretakers and families of the elderly will also have certain requirements, he hopes further developments of the silver economy will also get them to spend more. For his part, Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said many eateries have already offered discounts to the elderly even before the latest attempt take development of the silver economy to the next level. He believes more than 100 eateries will join the government's "Friends & Flavours" campaign, which will see restaurants offering meal options suitable for the elderly. This is because these options have been made available in recent months and become very popular among older consumers, Wong added.
RTHK
27-05-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Govt unveils 30 measures to promote 'silver economy'
Govt unveils 30 measures to promote 'silver economy' Officials say measures will be introduced to encourage "post-50s" to participate in training and rejoin the labour market. Photo: RTHK The government on Tuesday unveiled a total of 30 new measures to promote the "silver economy" and tap into the "favourable financial conditions and purchasing power" of the city's elderly population. Officials announced measures in five areas: boosting "silver consumption", developing the "silver industry", promoting "quality assurance of silver products", enhancing "silver financial and security arrangements" and unleashing "silver productivity". To get elderly people spending more, there'll be a "Friends & Flavours" drive involving restaurants introducing suitable meal options, while the retail sector will be urged to offer discounts to older customers. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said he expects more than 100 restaurants to join "Friends & Flavours" campaign. Measures will also be introduced to encourage "post-50s" to participate in training and rejoin the labour market, including new placement-tied courses which will be launched in the second quarter of the year. "In 2024, the elderly spending of people aged 60 and above amounted to HK$342 billion. In 10 years' time, it is predicted to grow to HK$496 billion, so that is the kind of magnitude of silver spending," said Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who chairs the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy. "If we can achieve a five percent growth a year, and if we just take the first year in illustration, that would amount to HK$17 billion, which is quite substantial." Five different government bureaus will be responsible for promoting and collaborating with various industries to launch the new measures.
