The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, today (September 9) visited the Kindness Centre of St James' Settlement, an intermediary of the food support flagship project FOOD-CO launched under the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund), to keep abreast of the latest operation of the food support programme. He also encouraged the organisation to continue to enhance the effectiveness of the food support service sector in Hong Kong through information technology, as well as strengthen the promotion of food donation.

Professor Sun received a briefing from the Chief Executive Officer of St James' Settlement, Ms Josephine Lee, on the details of the food support programme, followed by a demonstration of an automated one-stop logistics system comprising food delivery and temporary storage services. He gained a better understanding of the one-stop volunteer recruitment and training platform that provides manpower support to small and medium-sized food support service operators. The food support programme also facilitates an automatic food donation process through initiatives, such as introducing an artificial intelligence chatbot. Professor Sun also learned about the operation of the anti-epidemic food support programme launched under the SIE fund in response to the epidemic.

“The SIE Fund promotes the adoption of innovative ideas and encourages cross-sectoral collaboration to meet the needs of society effectively. I am pleased to see that the FOOD-CO platform connects food donors and service operators with technology. Through the use of a mobile application, both parties can share information and match the demand and supply of food at the same time in a convenient and time-saving manner,” Professor Sun said.

Professor Sun then joined the Chairperson of the SIE Fund Task Force, Dr Jane Lee, and the Vice-chairperson, Mr Alvin Miu, to distribute food packs to grassroots families and chatted with them. Each food pack includes rice, noodles, biscuits and canned food. With the Mid-Autumn Festival around the corner, Professor Sun also presented mooncakes and fruit to the families to extend his warm regards.

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