In keeping with its aim of building a culturally vibrant city, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has supported the renovation of the Fringe Club in Central. With an approved donation of over $44 million, the Trust has supported the renovation and heritage conservation of this 120-year-old, Grade 1 heritage building since 1989, as well as the establishment of the Jockey Club Cultural Heritage Leadership Project, which was aimed at nurturing young local arts and heritage administrators and practitioners.    

Today (11 April), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung, joined Secretary for Home Affairs the Hon Lau Kong-wah and Chairman of the Fringe Board of Directors Wailee Chow at a ceremony to mark the official completion of the renovation works.

Mr Cheung noted that over the years, the Club had been a staunch supporter of local arts development and heritage preservation. “The Club’s Charities Trust has designated arts, culture and heritage as one of its four strategic focus areas with the aim of building a culturally vibrant Hong Kong, enriching lives and promoting social inclusion,” he explained. “By supporting infrastructure development, we hope to help create the best enabling environment for the multi-dimensional and sustainable development of local arts and culture. The Fringe Club has served as a contemporary arts space in Hong Kong for more than 30 years, playing an important role in local arts development and in heritage preservation. With the completion of its renovation and conservation works, I hope that the Fringe Club will continue its pivotal role in the promotion of arts in the community.”

The Club-funded renovation and conservation works at the Fringe Club have enabled the historic building to meet up-to-date statutory building, fire and health hygiene requirements, while preserving and enhancing its striking exterior and interior features. Art facilities, equipment and furniture have also been upgraded to bring them up to present-day standards for exhibitions and performances, barrier-free access has been added, while the existing studio has been upgraded into a new, multi-purpose The Jockey Club Studio Theatre. This provides a platform for local and overseas artists to create and showcase their work and enables people of different ages and abilities to enjoy the club’s wide-ranging arts and cultural activities.

The Jockey Club Cultural Heritage Leadership Project was aimed at developing local young arts and heritage administrators and practitioners, provided training on heritage preservation and arts administration through activities such as lectures, experience-sharing by international experts, and the production of education kits.

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.