(19 September 2025) As Hong Kong’s population ages rapidly, the demand for gerontechnology has become increasingly urgent. Towngas has partnered with the Sham Shui Po District Office and Sham Shui Po West Area Committee to launch the first district-wide gerontechnology initiative, Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po. Bringing together government, business and community resources, the programme will install Smart Controllers in 300 elderly households in Sham Shui Po district, enabling residents to monitor their cooking appliances in real-time via mobile phones and switch off gas remotely, thereby enhancing home safety for the elderly while reducing caregiving pressure on their families.
The Lam household in Cheung Sha Wan Estate was amongst the first to join the programme. Mrs Lam, who enjoys going out regularly, expressed satisfaction after using the Smart Controller for about two months: “With this controller, I can cook with greater peace of mind and don’t have to worry when I’m out. After all, my children don’t live with me, so having this extra device provides additional protection.” Another participant, Mrs Yeung, who has mobility difficulties, believes the remote shut-off function further safeguards home safety: “We Shunde people often make fish soup. Now with the smart cooking controller, I don’t worry about the pot boiling dry. The Smart Controller can also connect to eight mobile devices, so if I forget to turn off the gas, even my neighbours can help. Life is much safer now.”
The Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po initiative has received support from the Home Affairs Department, district councillors and local organisations. Towngas is providing Smart Controllers to elderly residents in need through referrals from Sham Shui Po district councillors, including three years of complimentary maintenance. Mr Mak Ka-wing, Chairman of the Sham Shui Po West Area Committee, has additionally purchased 60 Smart Controllers, enabling more families to benefit.
Ms Priscilla To Kit-lai, JP, Director of Home Affairs, remarked at the launch ceremony: “The Home Affairs Department has always been committed to strengthening community support and fostering neighbourhoods with a greater sense of wellbeing through innovative technology and collaboration with community organisations. This Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po campaign, which employs advanced technology to enhance safety protection for elderly households, perfectly aligns with this policy direction.”
Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong, Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas, said: “This collaboration fully demonstrates the synergy between government, community and business sectors, showcasing how different stakeholders can work together to bring gerontechnology to elderly residents in Sham Shui Po. This sets a precedent for all eighteen districts in Hong Kong. We sincerely hope this partnership will serve as a springboard for accumulating valuable experience that will help us serve more communities in need in the future.”
Since launching the Smart Controller, Towngas has been actively engaging with non-governmental organisations, district councillors and local organisations to provide 10,000 Smart Controllers to elderly residents in need. Moving forward, Towngas will continue to work closely with the Government and district organisations to provide care and support to those in need through various channels, whilst further extending the smart controller gerontechnology products to more elderly households, benefitting a wider community of senior citizens.
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Press photo:
Photo 1:
The launch ceremony of Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po brings together Ms Priscilla To Kit-lai (3rd from left), Director of Home Affairs; Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong (3rd from right), Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas; Mr Oscar Wong Ho-yu (2nd from left), District Officer (Sham Shui Po); Ms Catherine Wong Pui-yee (1st from right), Head of Corporate Affairs and Government Relations of Towngas; Mr Mak Ka-wing (2nd from right), Chairman of Sham Shui Po West Area Committee; and Mr Cheung Pak-kin (1st from left), District Head of the Community Relations Focus Team and Head of Customer Services of Towngas as officiating guests.
Photo 2:
Ms Priscilla To Kit-lai, Director of Home Affairs, says Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po creates happiness for residents through innovative technology and community collaboration.
Photo 3:
Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong, Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas, says the project sets a precedent for all eighteen districts in Hong Kong.
Photo 4:
Nearly 80 elderly residents attend the event to witness the official launch of Smart Flame Cooking @ Sham Shui Po.
Photo 5:
Ms Priscilla To Kit-lai (centre), Director of Home Affairs; Mr Don Cheng Hill-kwong (2nd from left), Chief Operating Officer – Hong Kong Business of Towngas; and Mr Oscar Wong Ho-yu (1st from left), District Officer (Sham Shui Po), chat with Mr and Mrs Lam, elderly residents of Cheung Sha Wan Estate, to understand their experience using the Smart Controller. After trying it for about two months, both express that the Smart Controller is simple to use and safe.
Photo 6:
The officiating guests visit Mr and Mrs Yeung, elderly residents of Cheung Sha Wan Estate, to show concern for their daily needs and understand their experience using the Smart Controller, while presenting them with caring soup and other gifts.
Photo 7:
Members of Towngas’s Community Relations Focus Team, district councillors and celebrity volunteers present caring soup flasks, soup packs and mooncakes to the 80 elderly attendees, sharing the festive atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival in advance.
For media enquiries, please contact:
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited
Ms May Tam Assistant Corporate Affairs Manager Tel: 2963 3475 / 9192 0062 Email: tam.may@towngas.com |
Mr Julius Chow Senior Corporate Affairs Officer Tel: 2963 3471 / 6969 1360 Email: julius.chow@towngas.com |