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Club helps provide a home for new Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences

08/20/2018

Today (20 August) saw the official naming ceremony of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at The City University of Hong Kong (CityU). The college comprises the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, the latter providing Hong Kong’s first professional veterinary Bachelor’s degree programme under the concept of ‘One Health’.  The University Grants Committee (UGC) has recently decided to support the six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine programme as a publicly-funded programme starting from 2019/20. The college will eventually be located in the Jockey Club One Health Tower, due to open in 2022, construction of which is being funded by a HK$500 million donation to CityU from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Officiating guests at the naming ceremony included Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Carrie Lam; Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung; Chairman of UGC Carlson Tong; and CityU’s Council Chairman Lester Huang and President Professor Way Kuo.

Dr Ip said he was delighted to join the official naming ceremony of the college. “The Club, having its own extensive veterinary operations, sees the benefits the college will bring to the community as a whole, combining as it does veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences under the banner of ‘One Health’. As such it embodies the important insight that the health of human beings is intrinsically connected with the health of animals and with the environment, in which they co-exist,” he observed.  “The college represents an important step forward for human and animal health, both in Hong Kong and regionally. Given its strong partnership with Cornell University and  support from the Government and the UGC, I have no doubt that the college will shine as a centre of excellence in veterinary education and research, thereby further enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an education hub in the region.”

The Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences is intended to become a centre for biomedical education and research on cancer, neuroscience and regenerative medicine, while the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health will pursue research in areas such as emerging infectious diseases, food safety and aquatic production. The latter is also overseeing Hong Kong’s first professional veterinary Bachelor’s degree programme, launched under the concept of ‘One Health’. Together they will turn the Jockey Club One Health Tower into an educational and research base for veterinary medicine and life sciences, and help Hong Kong adopt a more holistic approach to health risk management.

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 the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences represents an important step forward for human and animal health, both in Hong Kong and regionally.


Picture 2:

Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (4th left) and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd left); Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Carrie Lam (centre); Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung (2nd right); Chairman of UGC Carlson Tong (4th right); and The City University of Hong Kong’s Council Chairman Lester Huang (3rd right) and President Professor Way Kuo (3rd left) are among guests at the official naming ceremony of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences.