As we advance in age, pursuing an active and healthy lifestyle becomes ever more important. Here you can learn about the leisure and cultural services and activities available in Hong Kong for the elderly to keep fit physically and mentally.

The elderly can enjoy fruitful lives and keep in touch with the community by taking part in a diversity of activities provided by the Government. They can also enjoy concessions and priority services.

Senior Citizen Card

All Hong Kong residents aged 65 or above are eligible for a Senior Citizen Card, which facilitates their access to concessions, discounts and priority services offered by Government departments, public companies, as well as private and commercial organisations. Issue of the first card is free of charge. Applications can be made by post or in person by the applicant or someone else on his/her behalf. Details of the Senior Citizen Card Office are as below:

The Senior Citizen Card Office
Room 2361, 23/F, Wu Chung House
213 Queen’s Road East
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:45 am-1 pm and 2 -5:45 pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays
Tel: 2961 7580-4
Fax: 2573 0079

• More on the Senior Citizen Card scheme
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_seniorciti/

Elderly Centre Services

The elderly are encouraged to visit the elderly centres in their district or neighbourhood and participate in various cultural, educational and recreational activities to broaden their social networks.

• More on District Elderly Community Centres
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_districtel/
• More on Neighbourhood Elderly Centres
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_neighborho/
• More on Social Centres for the Elderly
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_socialcent/

Senior Citizens aged 60 or above can enjoy a wide range of cultural programmes and activities organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Departrment (LCSD) at discounted fees. The seven fee-charging museums managed by the LCSD provide concession tickets for senior citizens aged 60 or above. Admission is free to all on Wednesdays. Admission charged programmes and free events can be found on the following webpages:

• Cultural event listings
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/culture/performart/programmes/index.htm
• More on Hong Kong's Heritage and Museums
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/culture/museum/index.htm

For a more active day out, the elderly may like to take part in themed local walks, cultural and heritage tours or visits to attractions near Hong Kong's border with the Mainland.

• More on exploring Hong Kong
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/culture/fun/index.htm

In addition to the rich collections of library materials, the Hong Kong Public Libraries offers a variety of programmes in reading, literature and culture, including talks and workshops on different topics that are suitable for the elderly.

• Programme calendar for Hong Kong Public Libraries
  http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/english/ext_act/ext_act_pc/ext_act_pc.html
• Highlights of the libraries' programme calendar
  http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/english/ext_act/ext_act_hp/ext_act_hp_wn/ext_act_hp_wn.html

To encourage the elderly to develop IT skills, the Public Libraries offers talks on IT and computer workshops to promote the use of IT and provide basic knowledge of computer for the elderly and other citizens free of charge.

• More on available IT workshops and activities
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/communication/publicit/course/index.htm
• More on IT subject talks available at Public Libraries
  http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/english/ext_act/ext_act_ittw/ext_act_ittw_tnde/ext_act_ittw_tnde.html
• More on computer workshops available at Public Libraries (available in Chinese only)
  http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/tc_chi/ext_act/ext_act_ittw/ext_act_ittw_ite/ext_act_ittw_ite.html

Being active helps the elderly to stay healthy, LCSD provides them with numerous activities free of charge. For example, the Healthy Elderly Scheme provides activities including Tai Chi, social dance, table tennis and badminton.

Other than those free activities specially organised for the elderly, persons aged 60 or above can hire LCSD leisure facilities or enrol in normal recreation and sports activities organised by LCSD at a concessionary rate of 50%.

• Information of LCSD leisure facilities and activities
  http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ls.php
• Programme list for activities in the Healthy Elderly Scheme
  http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ballot_crsp.php

(Select the "Healthy Elderly Scheme" in the column "All Activities Types", and click "Search")

The Healthy Exercise For All Campaign encourages people of all ages to recognise the benefits of regular exercise.

• More on the Healthy Exercise For All Campaign
  http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/healthy/en/index.php

There are many walking trails suitable for the elderly and many country parks offer educational programmes on flora and fauna, conservation and the history of the area.

• More on The Hiking Scheme
  http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/healthy/hiking/en/index.php
• More on Hong Kong's country parks
  http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_lea/cou_lea.html
• More on family walks
  http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/index2_3.htm
• More on hiking safety tips
  http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/index2.htm

The elderly and their carers may also visit the Cheung Muk Tau Holiday Centre for the Elderly in Sai Kung and enjoy the camping facilities there throughout the day or stay overnight.

• More on the Holiday Centre for the Elderly
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_elderly/sub_csselderly/id_holidaycen/