[The following is jointly issued by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Institute of Philanthropy]
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“The Club”) Charities Trust and the Institute of Philanthropy (“IoP”) co-hosted a regional health and development conference in Bangkok, Thailand, from 28 January to 2 February with 18 United Nations agencies and philanthropic foundations.
The week-long Prince Mahidol Award Conference (“PMAC”) 2025 was held under the theme “Harnessing Technologies in an Age of AI to Build a Healthier World”. Participants explored how to leverage the latest technologies to facilitate equitable, affordable and comprehensive health-care access for all. Conference co-hosts included Club’s Charities Trust and IoP, the World Health Organization (“WHO”), United Nations Development Programme (“UNDP”), Rockefeller Foundation, the Gates Foundation and The World Bank, etc.
IoP, a charitable organisation established by the Club and its Charities Trust in 2023, staged a special event at PMAC on 31 January entitled “Non-communicable Disease Management in a Primary Healthcare Setting”. There it announced a three-year pilot project in collaboration with the WHO to control and manage non-communicable diseases (“NCDs”) in primary-care settings.
Supported by a contribution of US$1.9 million (HK$14.8 million) from IoP, this will see the WHO’s Regional Office for the Western Pacific (“WPRO”) develop an end-to-end NCD control and management protocol in the Philippines, Tonga and Solomon Islands. It encompasses prevention, early identification, treatment and long-term management as well as prevention of complications and management of NCDs in primary-care settings.
“The launch of this NCD pilot project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with NCDs in vulnerable countries, while at the same time illustrate an investment case for scaling up the end-to-end NCD control and management model in the whole Western Pacific region,” said Dr Tran Thi Giang Huong, WPRO’s Director of Division of Programmes for Disease Control.
Dylan Lu, Co-Secretary-General (Programmes) at IoP, said: “The Institute of Philanthropy is delighted to support the WHO in addressing the need to prevent and manage NCDs in the region. This donation clearly showcases our commitment to global health through collaboration with the WHO, together with the US$11.2 million funding pledge that IoP made at the WHO Investment Round in May and October 2024.”
In addition, the Club’s Charities Trust and The Chinese University of Hong Kong in association with IoP co-convened a side-programme at PMAC 2025 on 29 January entitled “Towards Universal Health Coverage: Innovative Technologies for Early Screening and Management of Diabetes”. It explored data-driven approaches and digital innovations to strengthen diabetes care and management. This side-programme featured findings from two Trust-supported initiatives on a care model harnessing biogenetic markers, big data algorithms and the latest wearable technologies to improve health outcomes and empower self-management for people living with or at risk of diabetes.
IoP and UNDP also co-convened a separate side-programme at PMAC on the same day entitled “Catalysing Digital Technologies for Non-communicable Diseases in the Global South”. It highlighted case studies on innovative technologies being used for the prevention and management of NCDs to mobilise resources and foster collaboration in the Global South.
Established as a “think-fund-do” tank for China and Asia, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought-leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels. It seeks to collaborate extensively with fellow foundations and contribute to WHO’s efforts to address global health issues. IoP pledged US$11.2 million (HK$87.4 million) to WHO’s Investment Round in May and October last year to promote, provide for and protect the health and well-being of people worldwide. The Investment Round is a new collaborative mechanism to generate sustainable financing for the WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work 2025-2028.
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 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 HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2023/24, the Club returned a total of HK$40.1 billion to the community. This included HK$29.9 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$10.2 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s leading charity donors.
Institute of Philanthropy
The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a strategic seed grant of HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. Established as a “think-fund-do” tank for China and Asia, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought-leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies everywhere.
