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Jockey Club convenes second Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum with renowned speakers to discuss metropolitan social issues

09/20/2018

Urbanisation in recent decades has been accelerating on an unprecedented scale, fundamentally transforming the opportunities and challenges that cities face today. To address the opportunities and challenges of such metropolitan communities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has convened the 2018 Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, which opened today (20 September) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two-day forum is the first of its kind in Asia to focus on metropolitan social issues. It features over 60 prominent speakers who are sharing their views with some 1,000 thought leaders and delegates.

Officiating at today’s opening ceremony were Club Chairman Anthony W K Chow and HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Carrie Lam. “At the Jockey Club we strongly believe in the power of partnership,” said Mr Chow. “Working with the Hong Kong SAR Government, NGOs, academia and service providers, we both support and initiate responses to present and emerging social needs. We hope these discussions will provide you with fresh insights which you can apply within your own field of operations. Most of all, we hope that through continuing the dialogue we started two years ago this forum will strengthen collaboration and build common purpose - and all with the aim of creating better cities and better communities for all.”  

Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to the Club for organising the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum. “Hong Kong is an ideal urban centre to host this conference. And for a host of good reasons. The Hong Kong Government actively promotes cross-sector co-operation, as well as public-private partnerships, all in a concerted effort to solve the complex social and economics issues that confront us. Working with the community and the business sector, my Government is determined to build an inclusive and caring society. Working together, I am confident we can convert challenges into opportunities, dreams into reality,” said Mrs Lam.

This year’s forum focuses on five themes: Leveraging the Market, Sustainable Development, Maximising Impact, Youth & Creativity, and Health & Well-being. Through keynote presentations, plenary discussions and track sessions, delegates will be able to explore innovative ways in which different sectors can create social impact, drawing on international case studies with additional flavour from the perspective of Greater China.

Today’s opening keynote speaker was Nobel laureate Professor James Heckman from the University of Chicago, who shared his views on whether philanthropists should put more focus on early childhood development. Professor James Heckman observed that the forum played a valuable role in bringing stakeholders together to discuss how to tackle various challenges in society. Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus was another of today’s prominent speakers, joining Professor James Heckman in the closing dialogue with Nobel laureates on the topic of “Where is the next source of hidden value?”

Other leading speakers and guests at the forum include political philosopher Professor Michael Sandel from Harvard University; President of the Michael Phelps Foundation Michael Phelps; Founder of The Yao Foundation Yao Ming; HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration the Hon Matthew Cheung; Secretary for Innovation and Technology the Hon Nicholas Yang;  Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr the Hon Law Chi-kwong; Hong Kong Monetary Authority Chief Executive Norman Chan; and Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. Professor Michael Sandel will be keynote speaker on the second day of the forum, discussing the topic “The Ethics of Market-based Social Impact Work: What are the limits of markets to deliver social good?”. Michael Phelps and Yao Ming, together with Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, will share their views on the question “Sports and Cities: How can we use sports to improve well-being and achieve social good in cities?”.  

For more details, please visit the forum website: http://www.citiesphilanthropy.com/en/  

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 charity 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 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also 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 Anthony W K Chow says he hopes that by continuing the dialogue the Club started two years ago, the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum will strengthen collaboration and build common purpose.


Picture 2:
HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Carrie Lam says Hong Kong is an ideal urban centre to host this conference - and for a host of good reasons.


Picture 3:
Club Chairman Anthony W K Chow (right) joins HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Carrie Lam (left) at the opening ceremony of the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum.


Picture 4:
Club Chairman Anthony W K Chow (8th right) with HKSAR Chief Executive the Hon Carrie Lam (8th left); Chief Secretary for Administration the Hon Matthew Cheung (7th right), Nobel laureate Professor James Heckman from the University of Chicago (6th left), Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus (5th right), members of Club Board of Stewards and Board of Management.


Picture 5:
Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus (right) joins Professor James Heckman (left) and the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (centre) at today’s closing dialogue to discuss the topic “Where is the next source of hidden value?”