Thematic Report on Communication and Information

The Thematic Report on Communication and Information is a thematic research publication produced under the Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in collaboration with university research teams across Hong Kong. Aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-friendly Cities framework, this report examines the accessibility, clarity, and effectiveness of communication channels and information dissemination mechanisms for Hong Kong’s aging population. Based on comprehensive quantitative surveys and qualitative focus groups conducted across local districts, the study investigates how older adults access public health information, government notices, social services, and community news. It addresses key topics including the digital divide, adoption of smartphones and digital technologies, print media readability, community broadcast efficacy, and word-of-mouth networks. The report identifies critical barriers such as complex digital interfaces, small font sizes, and digital exclusion, while highlighting effective strategies to promote digital inclusion and age-friendly information design. Providing actionable guidelines for public departments, NGOs, and media organizations, this open-access report serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, social workers, public relations professionals, and policymakers in gerontology, communication studies, digital inclusion, and public policy.