For the sixth consecutive year, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is supporting the Hong Kong Flower Show being staged by Leisure and Cultural Services Department in Victoria Park. Today (16 March), the Club's Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow joined Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Acting Secretary for Home Affairs Jack Chan and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Michelle Li as officiating guests at the opening ceremony.

As the Major Sponsor of the ever-popular Flower Show, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated HK$5.9 million to support six related educational initiatives, namely a Mosaiculture Display by Students, a Student Drawing Competition, a Transport Subsidy Scheme and Guided Tours, a Flower Replanting Scheme, a 'One Person One Flower' scheme and a Community Green Playground. In total, these initiatives will reach more than 300,000 students and parents, while the transport subsidy scheme and guided tours will benefit some 31,000 elderly people, students and disadvantaged families.

Open to the public for 10 days until 25 March, this year's Flower Show carries the theme "Joy in Bloom", with the colourful Dahlia, which has varied forms with prolonged flowering, as the theme flower. Visitors can appreciate a wide variety of exquisite potted plants, beautiful floral arrangements and gorgeous landscape displays from local, Mainland and overseas exhibitors. During the weekends they can also visit the Jockey Club Community Green Playground to enjoy family activities and understand more about the conservation and appreciation of nature through experimental learning. To foster awareness of the importance of environmental protection and greening, an initiative called "Give the Flowers a New Home!" Jockey Club Flower Replanting Scheme will ensure that the potted flowers remaining at the end of the show are sent to non-governmental organisations and schools for replanting.

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.