In support of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and in alignment with The First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is pleased to announce that its Charities Trust has approved in principle a donation of HK$3 billion to support the construction of a Life and Health Academic Research Building at the Northern Metropolis University Town. The initiative follows HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee’s annual Policy Address delivered today (16 September), in which he announced the construction of an integrated teaching and scientific research building in the Northern Metropolis. The facility will focus on education, scientific exchange and nurturing research talent, and will provide shared facilities for tertiary institutions.
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said, “2026 marks the commencement of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, while 2027 will see the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As a patriotic world-class horse sports organisation, as well as a charity institution deeply committed to our country and Hong Kong, the Club is honoured to work alongside the HKSAR Government to support the long-term development, prosperity and progress of Hong Kong as it advances from stability to greater prosperity and success.”
Situated in Hong Kong Park in the Hetao Co-Operation Zone, the Life and Health Academic Research Building will provide more than 30,000 square metres of gross floor space in support of life and health science research. Further details of the project will be announced in due course.
The new building reflects the Club’s longstanding commitment to nurturing cutting-edge talent and research. For example, the JC STEM Lab initiative, launched in 2021, supports state-of-the-art laboratories that attract leading researchers, nurture STEM talent and translate scientific discoveries into solutions with societal impact. Building on this commitment, the Club launched the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application in 2024, providing promising early-career researchers with funding, capacity-building and industry exposure to turn innovative ideas into impactful real-world applications. Meanwhile, the Jockey Club One Health Tower at City University of Hong Kong is advancing interdisciplinary education and research in veterinary medicine and life sciences. Together, these initiatives underscore the Club’s dedication, in collaboration with the HKSAR Government, academia and research institutions, to translating learning and innovations into tangible solutions that serve the community-at-large.
The Club’s support for Life and Health Academic Research Building, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) is a world-class horse sports and entertainment organisation that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the benefit of the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2025/26, the Club returned a total of HK$39.3 billion to the community. This included HK$30.7 billion to the HKSAR Government in taxes and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$8.6 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.
