Over the years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has consistently supported the advancement of the country’s sports development and the promotion of inclusivity in sports, encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles. In the last ten years alone, HKJC’s Charities Trust has provided nearly HK$6.7 billion to support sports development at both elite and community levels.
On Sunday, HKJC stated that it will continue its efforts to advance sports development in Hong Kong. By bringing major sports events into the community and progressing towards professional and industry development, HKJC aims to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s efforts to promote sports in the community, support elite sports, maintain Hong Kong’s status as a center for major international sports events, enhance professionalism and develop sports as an industry.
This year’s The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day was held at Sha Tin Racecourse, attracting over 200 charity and community representatives. The ceremony was officiated by Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR government; Lin Nan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Martin Liao, HKJC Chairman; Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, HKJC Chief Executive Officer; Kenneth Fok, member of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR; and George Tsoi, Commissioner for Sports of the HKSAR government.
HKJC Chairman Martin Liao highlighted that horse racing is a symbol of the city’s prosperity and stability under One Country, Two Systems, and remains a highly popular sport, embodying Hong Kong’s “can do” spirit. This year’s Community Day features sports as its theme, showcasing HKJC’s contribution and strong commitment to sports development in Hong Kong. Through its unique integrated business model, HKJC delivers world class horse racing and responsible wagering, supports the HKSAR government in combatting illegal gambling, and generates economic and social value for Hong Kong through tax contributions, charity donations and employment opportunities for the betterment of society. In the last financial year, HKJC contributed a total of HK$39.1 billion to society, including HK$9 billion in approved charity donations. HKJC is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, with its Charities Trust among the biggest donors worldwide and the largest in Asia.
Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized the Government’s continued commitment to investing in and promoting sports development in Hong Kong. She noted that HKJC has long been one of the Government’s most valued partners in the promotion of sports, from supporting the construction of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (formerly the Jubilee Sports Centre) in the late 1970s to its support for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games, as well as various “M” Mark events including the Hong Kong Sevens, which concludes last Sunday at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Going forward, HKJC will continue to work alongside stakeholders to contribute to Hong Kong’s sports development blueprint. Leveraging major sports events as a platform, HKJC will bring sports culture deeper into the community through continued support for multiple “M” Mark events as an Official Community Partner, enabling broader participation, including among underprivileged groups, to experience the appeal of sports and promote social inclusion. In parallel, new initiatives will continue to be introduced, such as this week’s “Racing with Rugby”, to further enhance the economic impact, international profile and benefits of sports development generated by major events in Hong Kong.
HKJC will also actively foster a vibrant culture of community sports by developing iconic sports such as equestrian, football, basketball, golf and rugby, broadening the public’s exposure while deepening interest and sports literacy. These diverse activities and support programs will help enhance youth resilience, improve physical and mental health, and strengthen social cohesion, thereby fostering positive values.
To further strengthen the sports ecosystem and promote sustainable development, HKJC will continue to enhance talent development, strengthen corporate governance and improve management capacity across sports organizations. These efforts will generate greater social impact, raise professional standards across the sector, and support the development of both elite and community sports. Through these initiatives, HKJC aims to work closely with the HKSAR government and partners across society to inject new momentum in local sports development and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a world class destination for sports, entertainment and tourism.
Sports development remains one of HKJC’s key focus areas. HKJC has long supported a wide range of sports initiatives to promote a healthier and more vibrant society. These include the Trust initiated and funded JC Fit City, which encourages citizens to incorporate sports and exercise into their daily lives to achieve the World Health Organization’s recommended weekly level of physical activity; JC Project MuSE, a school-based music (Mu) and sports (S) education (E) program for primary school children in the most impoverished areas of Hong Kong; the Jockey Club HKFA Football Development Programme, which empowers people of all ages and abilities - including students, parents, coaches and seniors - to experience the joy of football; and the Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit, which provides a platform for young footballers from different areas to learn, exchange views, and understand cultural differences.
HKJC initiated the annual Community Day race meeting in 2005 as a way of honoring its successful partnerships with Government and community organizations for the betterment of society. This initiative followed the generous donation of a silver racing trophy, over 170 years old, by the late Tobias Brown, in recognition of HKJC’s charitable contributions to the community. It has since been renamed The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy. It was won this year by Absolute Honour, ridden by Zac Purton. Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the trophy to winning owner Alan Hu.
Among the sports initiatives initiated and funded by the HKJC Charities Trust is the JC Fit City project, which was launched with an approved donation of HK$336 million. With more than 65 per cent of people in Hong Kong failing to maintain a healthy exercise routine, the project aims to help the community meet the World Health Organization’s recommended level of weekly physical activity by integrating exercise into daily life.
Yui is one of the project beneficiaries who shared his journey to better health at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day. At the age of 41, Yui’s experience mirrored that of many people in Hong Kong. With work and family responsibilities taking priority, exercise and training gradually fell to the bottom of his list of priorities, while managing his health became increasingly secondary.
The turning point came when Yui was diagnosed with the “three highs” and found to be overweight. With his children also requiring care, Yui — while balancing both work and family commitments — decided to join the “8 Weeks of Running to Keep Fit” program under the JC Fit City project. Over the course of the eight-week program, Yui received coaching in trail running and strength training, as well as professional nutritional guidance. Through consistent training, he rebuilt healthy exercise habits, improved his physical condition, and adopted a more disciplined lifestyle. The program not only delivered lasting physical improvements but also helped him regain confidence and motivation. He now eats healthily, has lost six kilograms, completed a 12‑kilometre trail run in Sai Kung, and has integrated regular exercise into his weekly routine.
HKJC Special
