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Launch Ceremony of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Hong Kong

01/08/2018

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been mobilising expertise from different regions and backgrounds to implement various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek to eradicate poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change. It is now extending its reach into Hong Kong. The new network, SDSN Hong Kong, co-hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was officially launched this afternoon (8 January) at CUHK.

Officiating at today’s launch ceremony were The Hon Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), United Nations, Anthony W K Chow, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Professor Rocky S Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK.

CUHK and the Trust have established a long-term and productive partnership on a wide range of social and sustainable development issues.  In December 2013, the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change, the first museum of its kind in the world, was established at CUHK, offering a platform for the public to champion the cause of sustainable development. The commitment of CUHK and the Trust to mobilising expertise and resources to address the Sustainable Development Goals in Hong Kong has contributed to the eventual establishment of the Hong Kong Chapter of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which was officially recognised by the Executive Committee of UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) as a national network in October 2017. 

Professor Tuan in his welcome address said that sustainable development was a pressing issue of our time.  ‘The roles of universities in sustainable development are undisputed.  We are the centres of knowledge generation and serve as knowledge repositories.  Not only do we create and incubate new technologies, through research and development, most importantly we also educate and inspire future generations of leaders in sustainable development,’ he added.

“As an organisation committed to the betterment of our society, the Jockey Club welcomes the Sustainable Development Goals.  Indeed, with initiatives across a wide range of sectors, the Club is already addressing a number of the goals.  We look forward to supporting more such projects, and to encouraging our many community partners to embrace the goals,” said Anthony W K Chow, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.  “It is also the Club’s experience that the best way to tackle community issues is through partnerships.  We are therefore delighted to see the Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Hong Kong take forward this collaborative approach, creating a forum where expertise can be shared, partnerships forged and cross-sector collaboration facilitated. ”

The Chief Executive said, “I am very pleased with the alliance between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in launching the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong. It will connect our academics, scientists and stakeholders with a global network for the exchange of scientific and technological knowledge, for joint research and for the development of innovative ideas and practical solutions for sustainable development. Such connection is set to benefit Hong Kong, other members of the Network, and the sustainable development of the world. I wish the Network and the newly launched Hong Kong chapter every success in their future endeavours.”

The event climaxed in the keynote speech by Professor Sachs. He remarked ‘Hong Kong is a global leader in finance, commerce, logistics, and tourism, and therefore a key global leader in facing the 21st century challenges of sustainable development.  The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) is grateful to our partners, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, for taking the lead in launching SDSN Hong Kong.  This new chapter of SDSN will make a major contribution to Hong Kong’s own sustainable development, and will bring Hong Kong’s expertise and remarkable dynamism to global problem-solving as well.’

Professor Sachs is the co-recipient of the 2015 Blue Planet Prize, and a world-renowned professor of economics, leader in sustainable development, senior UN advisor, bestselling author and syndicated columnist.  Professor Sachs started out as a mainstream development economist but has since branched out into different fields including political economy, environmental economics and sustainability.  He has twice been named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential world leaders.  A recent survey by The Economist ranked Professor Sachs as among the world’s three most influential living economists of the past decade.

The launch ceremony was concluded by a panel discussion where Leong Cheung, Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Professor Gabriel Lau, Director of the Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability and AXA Professor of Geography and Resource Management of CUHK joined Professor Sachs to share their views on advancing UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in Hong Kong.

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:
Officiating at the launch ceremony of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Hong Kong are The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (2nd left); Director of the UN SDSN Professor Jeffrey Sachs (2nd right); Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Anthony W K Chow (1st left), and Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK Professor Rocky S Tuan (1st right).


Picture 2:
Director of the UN SDSN Professor Jeffrey Sachs (centre) presents SDSN Hong Kong Appointment Certificate to Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Anthony W K Chow (2nd left), Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK Professor Fok Tai-fai (2nd right), Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Leong Cheung (1st left) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK Professor Fanny Cheung (1st right).


Picture 3:
The event climaxed in the keynote speech by Director of the UN SDSN Professor Sachs.


Picture 4:
Director of the UN SDSN Professor Jeffrey Sachs (centre); Executive Director, Charities and Community of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Leong Cheung (left), and Director of the Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability and AXA Professor of Geography and Resource Management of CUHK Professor Gabriel Lau (right) at the panel discussion on ‘Advancing Sustainable Development Goals: The Hong Kong Perspective’.


Picture 5:
Photos 5/6:
Guests tour the Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change.


Picture 6: