Oral health is an important building block for a healthy community, particularly at the primary level where “prevention is better than cure” is as vital as in any other area of healthcare. In particular, given the shortage of dentists and other healthcare professionals, The Hong Kong Jockey Club recognises that dental hygienists can play a greater role in preventive dental care and community education.
Responding to this opportunity, and with the Government having introduced of a statutory registration system for dental hygienists with suitable adjustments to their scope of practice, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, through its Charities Trust, approved a donation of nearly HK$72 million to the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to establish the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre.
The Centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities and a training environment that replicates a real-world dental clinic for the newly launched Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene programme, thereby strengthening the training capacity for dental hygienists. In addition, the Club will provide full tuition sponsorship for selected students, encouraging more aspiring individuals to pursue careers as dental hygienists and serve the community.
The opening ceremony of the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre was held today (23 October), officiated by Dr Cecilia Fan, Under Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Jeffrey Lam, Chairman of the Vocational Training Council.
Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Philip Lo said that “Health” and “Development of Professionals” are key focus areas of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Club has long attached great importance to the development of primary healthcare services in Hong Kong and the cultivation of relevant professionals, with a view to addressing the community’s long-term need for quality healthcare services. Looking ahead, through cross-project collaboration, the Club will continue to advance its efforts to strengthen preventive and primary healthcare services, nurture healthcare professionals, and promote healthy lifestyles, with a view to enhancing the physical and mental well-being of the community.
Located at the VTC Chai Wan campus, the approximately 18,000-square-feet Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre is equipped with professional dental training facilities, including dental chairs, X-ray systems, suction systems and compressors, as well as virtual reality training systems and dental simulation equipment. These facilities provide students with a learning experience that closely replicates a real clinical environment. The centre also organises workshops to enhance public awareness of oral health.
In addition to supporting the establishment of the centre, the Club will support 36 students across three cohorts over a five-year period to study for the VTC’s Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene programme. Under The Hong Kong Jockey Club Tuition Sponsorship Scheme for Professional Diploma in Dental Hygiene, each eligible student will receive full tuition support up to HK$140,000. Upon graduation, these students will be required to serve, under designated conditions, in NGOs or Government dental clinics, applying their professional knowledge and skills to benefit the community. The 18-month programme has been accredited by the Dental Council of Hong Kong, enabling graduates to meet the qualifications for registration as dental hygienists. The first cohort of 60 students graduated in August this year.
Over the years, the Club has continuously supported oral health initiatives, providing people of different ages, backgrounds and needs with professional and appropriate dental screening, treatment, care and education services. These initiatives include the Jockey Club Children Oral Health Project, which provides oral examinations and oral health education for kindergarten children; the Jockey Club Special Oral Health Programme, which provides basic dental services for people diagnosed with dementia or Parkinson’s disease; the Jockey Club Kwai Tsing Community-based Dental Support Programme, which provides subsidised dental services for residents in need in Kwai Tsing; and the Jockey Club Dental Care Programme, which provides subsidised dental services as well as education for people with financial difficulties, among others. The three primary healthcare dental clinics in Tai Kok Tsui, Yuen Long and Sham Shui Po, supported under the Jockey Club Dental Care Programme, also enable dental hygienists to fully utilise their professional expertise to provide preventive care and oral health education, enabling dentists to focus on more complex cases and enhancing overall service efficiency. The clinics also provide placement opportunities for students, enabling them to gain practical experience in serving underprivileged groups in community settings. The above initiatives not only address demands for dental services, but also enhance professionalism among dental hygienists and ultimately promote the provision of preventive dental services in the community.
The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Dental Care Training Centre, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model, through which the Club generates sustainable economic and social value for the community through tax contributions, charitable donations and employment opportunities.
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.
