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Club highlights its wide-ranging support for talent development, celebrating 20th Anniversary of HKJC Scholarships

04/21/2018

The Club has long been committed to nurturing talent, funding various projects to cultivate a favourable learning environment for students to explore different pathways. In addition to granting scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students, those with special education needs and those engaged in vocational education, it has been supporting other programmes promoting coding education, Chinese learning by ethnic minorities and the development of social workers and teachers. Marking the 20th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships, over 200 representatives from the Club’s NGO and community partners today (21 April) joined the 2018 Community Day Race Meeting at Sha Tin Racecourse to celebrate this memorable milestone.

The annual Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day meeting has since 2005 served as a way of honouring the Club’s successful partnerships with non-government organisations, Government departments, academic institutions and other groups for the betterment of Hong Kong.

Officiating guests at today’s event included Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Matthew Cheung; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr the Hon Law Chi-kwong and Secretary for Education The Hon Kevin Yeung.

“The Club seeks to invest for the long-term, benefiting society far into the future. It is clear to us that there is no better investment than in Hong Kong’s leadership talent, nurturing caring individuals who will carry the torch for our community and shape its destiny for decades to come.” Dr Ip told the guests. “We want our Scholars not just to do well, but also to do good. Do well by excelling in their studies and careers. Do good by giving back to the community. This is what makes the Jockey Club Scholarships so special.”

Mr Cheung said the Government attached great importance to enhancing and optimising Hong Kong's human capital. The new high-level Human Resources Planning Commission under his chairmanship has come on stream to ensure that the city had the right quantity and quality of human resources to meet its fast-changing socio-economic landscape, maintain its long-term competitiveness and remain a vibrant international city, he said. The Club had not only funded numerous educational infrastructure projects, but also introduced various scholarships to help nurture talent for Hong Kong. He commended the Club for sparing no effort in responding to the needs of society over the years.

The HKJC Scholarships were established in 1998. The scheme provides an average of 45 scholarships each year for local and Mainland students to pursue first degree courses in the eight UGC-funded institutions and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Since 2016/17 school year, the Club has further supported nine undergraduates with special education needs in the nine tertiary institutions, and 16 students in vocational education programmes. It has also extended the Scholarships to six postgraduate students at the University of Oxford and Harvard University each year. In total to date, more than 500 talented young people have been recognised under the scheme for their intellect, character and leadership qualities, as well as their commitment to community service.

The Club is committed to nurturing compassionate leaders. Besides the Scholarships, it has funded various projects such as InnoPower@JC: Fellowship for Teachers and Social Workers,which is aimed at empowering innovative and collaborative people to cultivate creativity among the education and social service sectors.

Today’s racing highlight was The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy. The trophy, which is over 160 years old, was donated by the late Mr Tobias Brown in recognition of the Club’s charitable contributions to the community. It was won this year by Viva Council, ridden by Matthew Chadwick. Mr Cheung presented the historic trophy to Owner Dominic Chung Won Lok.

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.


Picture 1:
Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip says it is clear to the Club that there is no better investment than in Hong Kong’s leadership talent, nurturing caring individuals who will carry the torch for our community and shape its destiny for decades to come.


Picture 2:
Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Matthew Cheung says the Club has not only funded numerous educational infrastructure projects, but also introduced various scholarships to help nurture talent for Hong Kong. It has spared no effort in responding to the needs of society over the years.


Picture 3:
Officiating guests at today’s HKJC Scholarships 20th Anniversary event included Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (centre) and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (1st right); and Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Matthew Cheung (2nd left); Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr the Hon Law Chi-kwong (2nd right) and Secretary for Education The Hon Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (1st left).


Picture 4:
Toasting the success of Community Day 2018 are officiating guests, Club Stewards, members of the Club’s Board of Management and guests.


Picture 5:
A group photo of over 50 HKJC Scholars with Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.


Picture 6:
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr the Hon Law Chi-kwong (right) presents the Best Turned Out Horse award to the stables assistant of Destin.


Picture 7:
Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Matthew Cheung presents The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy to Dominic Chung Won Lok, owner of the winning horse Viva Council.