On 30 August, the School of Nursing and Health Studies at Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), in collaboration with the Kowloon City District Office and the Kowloon City District Care Team, hosted the "Silver-age Co-creation for Sustainability · Tai Chi Video Game World Record" event on campus. Over a hundred elderly participants gathered to experience a seated Tai Chi fitness game, promoting the concept of healthy ageing through action, enhancing the physical and mental well-being of older adults, and successfully setting the SDG World Record for the "Highest Cumulative Participation in an Elderly Seated Tai Chi Fitness Game Experience."
The event was officiated by Ms. Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government; Mr. Yang Wing-kit, Legislative Council Member; Ms. Lam Yee-ching, District Officer of Kowloon City; Mr. Lai King-man, Official Certifier of the Sustainable Development World Records and Founding Chairman of the Hong Kong Family Office Association; Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, President of HKMU; and Professor Wong Yuen-ha, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies at HKMU, who jointly witnessed the birth of this world record. Meanwhile, Mr. Left Wai-hung and Mr. Lee Chit-wang, Members of the Kowloon City District Council, also attended to support the event.
In her speech, Secretary Mak expressed her heartfelt gratitude to HKMU for its active research and development of gerontechnology, contributing to improving the quality of life for the elderly and addressing population ageing. She noted that the country's 15th Five-Year Plan and its related health planning propose actively responding to population ageing, improving elderly welfare, promoting health, and optimising medical services. "This event perfectly integrates 'medical care' and 'community services,' bringing professional medical technology into the realm of community care," she said.
She expressed her expectation that HKMU would continue to develop research projects with positive social impact, actively respond to the needs of social development, benefit the community, and work together to enhance citizens' sense of happiness and gain.
President Lam emphasised that as Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences, HKMU has always been committed to nurturing professionals with practical capabilities, flexible and innovative thinking, and a strong sense of social mission. The University's strategic development also aligns with the broad direction of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan in promoting the integration of education, technology, and talent.
He stated that to address the challenges of Hong Kong's ageing population, HKMU continues to promote the health and well-being of the elderly and has designated "gerontechnology" as one of its key research areas. "We look forward to working with the government and industry partners to jointly build a more inclusive community that is more suitable for elderly people to age in place," he said.
Including a previous event of the same series held on 18 July, a total of over a hundred elderly people participated in the seated Tai Chi fitness game, promoting the concept of healthy ageing to all sectors of society. The newly established SDG World Record for the "Highest Cumulative Participation in an Elderly Seated Tai Chi Fitness Game Experience" actively responds to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4 — "Promote mental health and well-being"; this goal aims to reduce non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment by 2030, and to comprehensively enhance physical and mental health and well-being.
The "Tai Chi Video Game" interactive game used in the event was co-developed by HKMU's Sports and Games Research Centre and its corporate partners. Combining traditional Tai Chi with innovative technology, it allows older adults to engage in safe and enjoyable physical activity through interactive gaming. This model helps improve balance and flexibility, thereby reducing the risk of falls, and also helps enhance cardiopulmonary function, promoting physical and mental health. The gamified design also encourages older adults to maintain exercise habits more easily and build social connections through group activities.
With the support of the Research Grants Council's Institutional Development Scheme Research Infrastructure Grant, HKMU established the Sports and Games Research Centre in 2023. The Centre focuses on applying gerontechnology to develop interactive, innovative gamified solutions, serving older adults, stroke rehabilitation patients, and wheelchair users. "Tai Chi Video Game" is one of the concrete outcomes of the University's collaboration with innovation and technology institutions. It is currently being piloted in community elderly homes and day care centres, while research data is being collected simultaneously to empirically evaluate the positive benefits of the game on elderly health.