-- The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) have joined forces to launch the Gas Guardian Care Network programme. By monitoring the gas usage records of high-risk grassroots elderly residents, the system will send alerts to their carers if no gas usage is recorded for two consecutive days, prompting them to check on the elderly person’s wellbeing. Towngas hopes to enhance home safety for the elderly through the application of technology.
Currently, there are approximately 320,000 elderly singleton and doubleton households across Hong Kong, some of whom rarely venture outdoors, placing them at higher risk of domestic and social isolation. To support them, Towngas has partnered with FTU to launch the Gas Guardian Care Network pilot programme. Through FTU’s community network, high-risk grassroots elderly residents are identified, whilst Towngas utilises Smart Meters to monitor their gas usage patterns in real-time. If no gas usage is recorded for two consecutive days, text message alerts are immediately sent to both the elderly resident and their carers, reducing the risk of domestic accidents.
Grandma Chui, an 87-year-old singleton who is amongst the first group of participants, shared, “My legs aren’t very mobile, so I’ve been going out less and having less contact with the outside world in recent years. My family doesn’t live with me, so they worry about my health. Now that Towngas sends text reminders to my family, it eases their concerns.” Grandma Chui’s daughter strongly supports the programme, “I stay on the mainland mostly and can’t visit my mum regularly. I’m grateful for this programme as it provides us with an additional layer of protection. Even when I’m not by mum’s side, I can still get hold of her situation.”
The programme’s key component is the Smart Meter, which transmits meter reading data to Towngas’s system. If the meter readings show no changes for two consecutive days, this is considered unusual behaviour indicating no cooking or hot water usage for bathing, and the system automatically sends text messages to both the elderly resident and their carers.
Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong, Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas, hopes the programme will fully harness Towngas’s gerontechnology capabilities to strengthen community connections for the elderly. “This programme is a successful example of effective collaboration between business and community services, with each party contributing their strengths. We hope that through this pilot programme, we can accumulate experience and replicate it across more places and levels, allowing this caring network to expand broader and wider, looking after more elderly people in need.”
Mr Stanley Ng Chau-pei, President of FTU and Legislative Council Member, hopes the Government and all sectors of society will strengthen cooperation and make good use of existing technology to enhance safety protection for elderly people ageing in place. “FTU has previously proposed to the Government the establishment of a ‘four-tier framework’, comprising individuals, neighbours, communities, and elderly centres, forming four layers of protection from inside out and allowing the elderly to enjoy their twilight years peacefully. In future, FTU will work hand-in-hand with Towngas through this programme to provide safer ageing-in-place environments for high-risk elderly residents, working together for the welfare of the elderly.”
Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, stated at the pilot programme’s launching ceremony that elderly singletons often face greater life risks than other elderly people, including loneliness and helplessness brought about by living alone. More seriously, they may lack immediate care when ill or injured, increasing the risk of not receiving timely help. This programme integrates technology into daily life, using Smart Meters to monitor elderly people’s gas usage habits. Once unusual gas usage records appear, carers can be notified to check on the elderly person’s condition. The elderly need only carry out their normal daily activities to gain additional safety protection through technological innovation. Family members and carers of the elderly can also remotely understand the elderly person’s situation through an additional channel, providing greater peace of mind.
This pilot programme aims to invite 1,000 high-risk grassroots elderly households across Hong Kong to participate. The first batch of 100 elderly households covers various districts across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, including Chai Wan Estate, Lam Tin Estate, Yau Lai Estate, Yee Ming Estate, and others, with further expansion to other estates planned.
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Press photos:
- Photo 1:
Towngas and FTU have joined forces to launch the Gas Guardian Care Network programme, with over 100 elderly individuals invited to join the programme briefing session and launching ceremony.
- Photo 2:
Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han (centre), Secretary for Labour and Welfare; Mr Stanley Ng Chau-pei (2nd from right), President of FTU and Legislative Council Member; Mr Tang Ka-piu (1st from left), Vice Chairman of FTU and Legislative Council Member; Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong (2nd from left), Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas; and Ms Catherine Wong Pui-yee (1st from right), Head of Extended Business and Community Relations Focus Team of Towngas, jointly officiate at the launching ceremony of the Gas Guardian Care Network programme.
- Photo 3:
Mr Chris Sun Yuk-han, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, expresses gratitude to Towngas and FTU for launching the Gas Guardian Care Network programme to enhance home safety for high-risk grassroots elderly residents.
- Photo 4:
Mr Stanley Ng Chau-pei, President of FTU and Legislative Council Member, hopes the Government and all sectors of society will strengthen cooperation and make good use of existing technology to enhance safety protection for elderly people ageing in place.
- Photo 5:
Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong, Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas, hopes the programme will fully harness Towngas’s gerontechnology capabilities to protect high-risk elderly residents’ home safety and reduce pressure on carers.
- Photo 6:
Mr Tang Ka-piu, Vice Chairman of FTU and Legislative Council Member, states that FTU will work hand-in-hand with Towngas through the Gas Guardian Care Network programme to provide safer ageing-in-place environments for high-risk elderly residents.
- Photo 7:
Mr Ivan Lee Ho-leung, General Manager – Product Development of Towngas, introduces the programme details and explains that Smart Meters can remotely read gas meter readings and monitor gas consumption data for elderly households.
- Photo 8:
Some of the first participants in the programme share their experience on stage.
- Photo 9:
Grandma Yiu, a 80-year-old singleton who is one of the first participants in the programme, shares that her children live rather far away from her, so her participation in the Gas Guardian Care Network programme allows her and her family to feel more at ease.
- Photo 10:
Grandma Chui (right), an 87-year-old singleton amongst the first group of participants, previously received a briefing from Towngas technical staff at her home on how the Smart Meter operates.
- Photo 11:
Towngas inspects Smart Meters for high-risk grassroots elderly residents to ensure effective remote monitoring of their gas usage records.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Ms Kara Kwong
Assistant Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357
Email: [email protected]
Mr Julius Chow
Senior Corporate Affairs Officer
Tel: 2963 3471 / 6969 1360
Email: [email protected]
Media Enquiries
For media enquiries, please contact our Corporate Affairs Department.
Corporate Affairs Department
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
21/F, 363 Java Road North Point, Hong Kong
WhatsApp: (852) 6702 6449
Email: [email protected]
Release ID: 89162268
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