HKPC’s “The Hong Kong Jockey Club IT Support Programme for NGOs” Sets Local NGOs on the Path to IT Upgrading

(Hong Kong, 17 June 2021) To encourage non-government organisations (NGOs) in Hong Kong to make smart use of information technology (IT) to enhance operation and service delivery, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, launched “The Hong Kong Jockey Club IT Support Programme for NGOs” to provide them with comprehensive free IT consultancy and advisory services. Since its launch in December 2019, 79 project applications have been approved so far. All of them have made excellent progress among which 34 projects have been completed.

Under the Programme, each applicant can apply for a maximum of three free consultancy and advisory service packages from a list of five including IT Strategic Planning Consultancy Services, Project Planning Advisory Services, Software / System Implementation Advisory Services (Build), Software / System Implementation Advisory Services (Buy), and IT Security Risk Assessment and Security Audit Services.

Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF) is one of the NGOs participating in the Programme. It has applied for project planning advisory services to facilitate the planning of a new service system, so as to help seek relevant funding support for the implementation of future IT projects. Ms Iris Chan, Head of Service at HKCF, said, “Capacity in handling tens of thousands of cancer patients and their carers, the new system offers timely and appropriate physical and psychological support, including emotional counselling, healthcare advisory, diet recommendations, and financial assistance. It can also enhance the processing of data management such as applying data analytics and business intelligence system for future service enhancement. In addition, it creates a framework for future IT development of our organisation enabling us to compile a new set of tender documents according to our development procedures.”

Elderly services provider Hong Kong Mutual Encouragement Association is another NGO which has joined the Programme. Through engaging the Programme’s IT Security Risk Assessment and Security Audit Services, it aims to raise the organisation’s information security level. Mr Wu Kwong-Chi, Supervisor of Hong Kong Mutual Encouragement Association, said, “HKPC helps us identify the existing information security risks of the organisation and provide us with valuable recommendations for our immediate follow-up. As a result, our cyber security has vastly improved. Also, through cyber security awareness training, all our staff realise the importance of information security and that every one of them is integral to the fight against cyber attacks.”

Mr Alex Chan, General Manager, Digital Transformation of HKPC, said. “The Programme is very much in line with the current rapid pace of IT development. Under the pandemic, different sectors, including NGOs, expect to improve their mode of operation through digital transformation in order to adapt to the new normal. Since its launch, the Programme has been supported by many NGOs with overwhelming response which is very encouraging. Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to assist more local NGOs to get ready for the implementation of new IT solutions, enabling them to achieve optimised operational efficiency and raise overall service level in their daily operation with smart use of limited resources.”

In addition, the Programme organises seminars for different IT topics regularly in which relevant solution providers will share practical digital upgrading and transformation project management experience based on the actual needs of NGOs. Also, the Programme participants talk about how the Programme has helped them adopt more IT and strengthen their abilities in the related areas. For example, in the Programme’s 1st anniversary and success case sharing seminar held recently on 27 May, representatives from Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services and elderly services provider Life Commitment Charity Club shared their experience on participating in the Programme.

The Programme’s free IT consultation and advisory services accept applications all year round. NGOs interested in applying for the services can submit their applications and relevant supporting documents through the online application system of the Programme’s webpage (www.jcitngo.org). For enquires about the Programme’s details and application procedures, please email to jcitngo@hkpc.org.

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Mr Alex Chan, General Manager, Digital Transformation of HKPC (third from left); Mr Robert Wong, Founder of Geligulu.com (third from right); Mr Matthew Tam, Founder and CEO of Social Career Platform (first from right); Mr Kelvin Chan, Cadet Trainer of Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services (second from left); Miss Oliva Chau, Project Manager of Life Commitment Charity Club (second from right); and Ms Irene Kan, Leading Consultant, Digital Transformation of HKPC (first from left) posed for a group photo at the “The Hong Kong Jockey Club IT Support Programme for NGOs” 1st anniversary and success case sharing seminar held on 27 May 2021.

Ms Iris Chan, Head of Service of Hong Kong Cancer Fund, said the group applied for project planning advisory services of the Programme to facilitate the planning of a new service system, so as to help seek relevant funding support for the implementation of future IT projects.

Mr Wu Kwong-Chi, Supervisor of the Hong Kong Mutual Encouragement Association, said HKPC helped the association identify the existing information security risks of the organisation and provided it with valuable recommendations for immediate follow-up.