Press Release

The Hong Kong Association of Banks (“HKAB”) is committed to serving the community through collaborations within the banking industry. This year, HKAB organised the “Digital Literacy Academy” in partnership with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (“HKFYG”), which aims to enhance the financial and digital literacy of senior primary school students in Hong Kong by providing an engaging learning experience. Today, the graduation ceremony of the “Digital Literacy Academy” and the launch of the “Intergenerational Digital Inclusion Community Programme” carnival took place at Central Market. The ceremony was officiated by Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”); Sun Yu, Chairman of the HKAB, and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) (“BOCHK”); and Alan Au, Acting Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

 

In his speech, Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the HKSAR, said, “The HKSAR government has joined hands with various sectors of society to prevent and combat cyber fraud and, at the same time, promote sound financial sense and digital literacy among young people from an early age. I am delighted to learn about the co-operation between the HKAB and HKFYG in running the ‘Digital Literacy Academy’, which aims to help the new generation of digital citizens develop rational thinking and a critical mindset. We will continue to work closely with various sectors, as a gatekeeper for young people and the public at large, to build a secure and reliable digital environment. This will not only promote the development of fintech, but also enable the public to enjoy the convenience of digital technology in their daily lives with greater peace of mind.”

 

Sun Yu, Chairman of the HKAB, and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, “This year, the HKAB has launched a series of collaborative initiatives with regulatory authorities and stakeholders to combat fraud and protect consumers through various measures. We always relish face-to-face interactions with the public to engage the community in promoting relevant financial knowledge. The ‘Digital Literacy Academy’ strives to cultivate responsible digital citizens by training students to develop robust financial mindsets and equipping them with the knowledge they need to protect their personal privacy and avoid cyber fraud. In addition, the ‘Intergenerational Digital Inclusion Community Programme’ carnival will further promote financial and digital literacy. In the future, we will continue to raise public awareness of personal data protection and the safe and secure use of digital banking channels, products and services, as part of our commitment to supporting the development of safety in the banking industry.”

 

Other guests at the event included Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the HKFYG, a co-organiser of the event; Chan Wai-kei, Superintendent of Police, Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force; and Eva Kwok, Vice President (Vibrant Youth Cultivation) of the Hong Kong Computer Society, both representing supporting organisations. The event was also attended by members of the HKAB Main Committee, volunteer teams from member banks, teachers and students from schools participating in the “Digital Literacy Academy”, and seniors from elderly centres in different districts, with a total of more than 100 supporters creating a lively atmosphere.

 

The “Digital Literacy Academy” has provided over 1,200 hours of training courses for more than 210 senior primary school students from 14 schools. These courses equipped students with online programming skills and used VR experiences to stimulate motivation and class participation. Students were encouraged to promote vigilance among their family members and classmates to avoid cyber scams, fostering smart customers and responsible digital citizens. Volunteers from member banks were actively involved in coaching and guiding students about financial education, fraud and cybercrime prevention and personal privacy protection.

 

To build on this, the HKAB is now launching the “Intergenerational Digital Inclusion Community Programme” carnival, which will take place over the next two days. Souvenirs will be distributed through seminars and booth games to engage community audiences and create an enjoyable experience. Representatives from the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force will provide in-depth demonstrations to convey fraud prevention messages and raise awareness among different age groups about identifying and preventing various scams. Students participating in the programme will serve as ambassadors, sharing knowledge learned from the training courses with the elderly through their programming creations. This initiative not only promotes financial and digital literacy but also encourages intergenerational inclusiveness and the building of a harmonious society.

Photos:

	Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (third from left), Sun Yu, Chairman of the HKAB, and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK (third from right), Alan Au, Acting Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (second from left), Hsu Siu-man, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups second from right), Chan Wai-kei, Superintendent of Police, Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force (first from left) and Eva Kwok, Vice President (Vibrant Youth Cultivation) of the Hong Kong Computer Society (first from right) attended the event.
	Representatives of students participating in the “Digital Literacy Academy” received their graduation certificates on stage and took photos with Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (sixth from left) and Sun Yu, Chairman of the HKAB, and Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK (fifth from right).
	The event was attended by teachers and students participating in the “Digital Literacy Academy”, and seniors from elderly centres in different districts, with a total of more than 100 supporters creating a lively atmosphere.
	Students were actively participating in the “Digital Literacy Academy”.
	Students were experiencing VR banking scenarios.

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