When patients are suffering terminal illnesses and days can no longer be added to their lives, hospice care can add life to their final days. To help increase the number of hospice places available to Hong Kong people, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has granted the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care funding to construct the Jockey Club Home for Hospice (JCHH), a home-like nursing home where aged terminally ill patients can spend their last days with their families. A subsidy programme has been designed to provide those from underprivileged families with an opportunity to enjoy the service.

Today (28 September), the Club’s Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow joined HKSAR Chief Executive The Hon Carrie Lam, Chairman of the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care Raymond Wong and Chairman of the JCHH Governing Committee Professor Thomas Wong at the official opening of the Jockey Club Home for Hospice and the launch of the Jockey Club Inpatient Hospice Care Subsidy Programme.

“Elderly services is one of the Trust’s strategic focus areas,” Mr Chow told the guests.  “We are keen to respond to the challenges and opportunities that arise from Hong Kong’s ageing population trend, one of which is the increasing number of terminally ill patients.”

“We are glad to work with the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, not only to construct the Jockey Club Home for Hospice, but also to launch a three-year Jockey Club Inpatient Hospice Care Subsidy Programme, which enables people in financial difficulties to stay at the Home.”

The four-storey JCHH provides 30 beds for terminally ill patients within a total floor area of 5,400 square feet. In addition the hospice is expected to provide home care support to over 1,000 people each year, while 5,000 will attend its day care service and 1,000 carers will join its training programmes.

The Trust’s total donation covers the HK$170 million cost of constructing and equipping the facility, plus another HK$22 million to implement the subsidy programme, which will cover palliative services and support for low-income groups and is expected to benefit over 500 underprivileged patients and their family members.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2016/17, the Club’s total direct return to the community was HK$30.5 billion. It is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer, one of the city’s major employers and one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.