The Hong Kong Jockey Club is supporting youthfest@HK for the fourth consecutive year, with the 2026 edition launching today (28 July) at the HYAB JC Y Cube at Youth Square in Chai Wan. As the annual flagship initiative under the HKSAR Government’s Youth Development Blueprint, youthfest@HK provides a positive and inclusive platform for young people from diverse backgrounds to realise their potential, broaden their horizons and cultivate positive values, a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective. These experiences equip young people to meet future challenges with confidence. Since 2023, the Club has supported the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) in delivering youthfest@HK through the Chief Executive’s Community Project List, with an annual approved donation of HK$10 million from the Club’s Charities Trust.
Officiating guests at the launch ceremony included Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Clarence Leung, Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Patrick Li, Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Kenneth Leung, Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission; Victor Pang, Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival of the Youth Development Commission, and Winnie So, Head of the Youth Link Committee.
Speaking at the ceremony, Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang said that the Club has always attached great importance to youth development. Through cross-sector collaboration and innovative thinking, it initiates and supports a wide range of projects that provide young people with diverse and equitable opportunities to develop their potential and contribute to society. He noted that the Club’s youth initiatives align closely with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR Government’s Youth Development Blueprint, through a commitment to nurturing a new generation with both a strong sense of national identity and a global vision. This includes the Club’s support for the Strive and Rise Programme since 2022, helping students from underprivileged backgrounds broaden their horizons, build confidence and better plan for their futures.
Each year, youthfest@HK brings together the Government, business sector, academia and the wider community to organise around 200 diverse activities, attracting approximately 200,000 participants. One of the key programmes in the previous edition was Youth Fest Youth Quest, which featured thematic sharing sessions and direct dialogue with Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs. The programme encouraged young people to actively participate in public affairs and policy discussions, while fostering exchanges between youth and different sectors of the community to explore Hong Kong’s future development.
The Club actively supports youth development through a broad range of initiatives. In addition to youthfest@HK, it supports projects such as 21C@JC, which enhances services for young people in the digital age, and JC YUP, which provides personalised support during three key transition stages from education to employment. Last year, the Club also announced a HK$1.4 billion donation to support five youth development initiatives. These include the HYAB JC Scheme for Youth Life Planning, launched in partnership with HYAB, and the enhancement of facilities at Youth Square, including the establishment of the HYAB JC Y Cube, the venue of today’s launch ceremony. The upgraded facilities feature interactive spaces and audio-visual production amenities that enable young people to explore diverse pathways and prepare for the future.
The Club’s support for youthfest@HK, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class sports and entertainment organisation 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 HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2024/25, the Club returned a total of HK$39.1 billion to the community. This included HK$30.1 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$9.0 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.
