This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships. Since 1998, more than 500 outstanding local and Mainland students have been able to further their education with support from the HKJC Scholarships. At the 2018 presentation ceremony and graduation celebration dinner held last night (10 July) the Club granted new scholarships to 50 students and congratulated 33 recently graduated Scholars as they embarked on their careers. Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip was joined at the event by keynote speaker, retired Commissioner of Police Dick Lee; the Club's Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow; Stewards Philip N L Chen, The Hon Sir C K Chow and Silas S S Yang and members of the Board of Management; and representatives from the 11 participating tertiary institutions.

Dr Ip told the guests that the Club wished its Scholars not just to do well, but also to do good. "What we are really looking for is potential. Potential to give back to the community. Potential to do something extraordinary that changes the lives of others. Potential to develop the leadership qualities our city needs," he said. "Leadership is not about the power to rule but rather the privilege to serve. Leaders must first learn to serve the community, to see and understand people's plight, empathise with their problems and lend them a helping hand."

Congratulating the graduating scholars and new recipients, keynote speaker Dick Lee said: "The HKJC Scholarships are so much more than providing recognition and financial support to Hong Kong's brightest young minds.  They are also scholarships with a heart.  For 20 years, the HKJC Scholarships have been nurturing a new generation of leaders with a heart to serve the wider community. I encourage the latest cohort of Scholars to fully embrace this spirit and aspire to make a positive impact for Hong Kong."

The 50 new Scholars, comprising 44 undergraduates and six postgraduates, are studying at the eight UGC-funded tertiary institutions and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA); as well as Oxford and Harvard Universities. Among them is Grayson Ho, who is undertaking a bachelor of Business Administration course, specialising in Information Systems, at the University of Hong Kong, and is keen to participate in various educational activities on coding. He has become an ambassador for the CoolThink@JC programme, which provides teaching support at primary schools to promote coding. Grayson says obtaining an HKJC Scholarship has allowed him to continue pursuing his dream of developing a mobile application to help wheelchair users locate barrier-free facilities in Hong Kong shopping malls. He also hopes to become an entrepreneur and establish a social enterprise to give back to society in the future.

Bibi Tayyaba, a graduate from the Education University of Hong Kong. Coming from an ethnic minority background, she sees the HKJC Scholarship as a constant reminder of the importance of giving back, especially to the needy and disadvantaged in Hong Kong. Her aspiration is to open more doors for ethnic minorities and make it possible for them to pursue their dreams.

To date, the Club has contributed a total of HK$400 million to the Scholarships through its Charities Trust. Since academic year 2016/17, the scheme has been expanded to benefit nine undergraduate students with special educational needs from nine institutions, as well as 16 students in vocational education programmes pursuing a higher diploma or overseas bachelor's degree. A total of six graduates each year are also given the opportunity to join postgraduate programmes at the University of Oxford or Harvard University, two of the world's top universities.

To continue and strengthen the bonds between its Scholars, the Club has established a Scholars Alumni Association, through which a wide range of social service opportunities are organised. A Scholarship Secretariat has also been set up to provide the Scholars with opportunities for learning and personal development, to interact with local leaders and be inspired to become compassionate leaders who care about social needs.

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.