The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) hosted its Scholarships and Fellowships Award Presentation Ceremony and High Table Dinner on Apr 28, awarding new scholarships to 110 students and presenting 10 STEM fellowships. The evening also marked the inauguration of five Endowed Professorships, underscoring HKJC’s long-standing commitment to education and talent development.

The ceremony was hosted by HKJC Chairman, Martin Liao, and featured keynote speaker Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. The event was attended by HKJC Stewards, HKJC’s CEO and management team, as well as representatives of participating tertiary institutions. Family members and friends of the award recipients were also present to share the occasion.

Liao said HKJC firmly believes that people are Hong Kong’s most precious resource. That is why HKJC has long invested in human capital and education, helping to drive the city’s economic development and contribute to the nation’s long-term prosperity.

In her keynote speech, Elberse reflected on her research into the world’s most accomplished sports and entertainment organizations. She emphasized that success is not left to chance, but built on placing people at the center, setting the highest standards and committing to continuous learning – even during times of success. She encouraged scholars, fellows and professors to pursue excellence with discipline, trust those they work with, and lead in ways that uplift others when it matters most.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships were launched in 1998 to nurture compassionate, socially minded leaders for the betterment of society. Over the years, the program has expanded to include vocational education, support for undergraduates from the Chinese mainland and overseas studying in Hong Kong, and those who have overcome significant adversity. A new scholarship in music and dance has also been introduced to support young talent pursuing professional studies at leading institutions outside Hong Kong. To date, over HK$1.25 billion in funding support has been approved — comprising over HK$1.21 billion from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and HK$36 million from the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) — benefiting more than 1,200 outstanding young people.

Over the years, Jockey Club Scholars have strived to make positive contributions to society. Sunny Wong, an awardee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman’s Scholarship, was the top “super scorer” in the 2025 DSE. Growing up in public housing, he aspires to become a doctor to serve grass-roots patients. He said the scholarship not only provides him with financial support, but also enables him to participate in various community services to give back to society.

Several Jockey Club Striding On Scholars have excelled in para table tennis on the international stage, including Winnie Pang. Despite living with congenital cerebral palsy affecting her right limbs, she won one gold and two silver medals at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, earning her a cash award under the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme. Winnie shared that the scholarship has enabled her to balance her academic and athletic ambitions. She is currently training for the Asian Games and World Championships, with her sights set on qualifying for the 2028 Paralympics.

Echoing this ambition is Samantha Yeung, a Jockey Club Compassionate Leader Scholarship awardee. Currently the captain of the Hong Kong lacrosse team, she credits the Jockey Club with sparking her passion for sports during childhood. From her early days at Jockey Club Ti-I College to first picking up a lacrosse stick during the COVID-19 pandemic, she has now received the Jockey Club Scholarship to study physical education, hoping to become a teacher and nurture young talent. At the same time, she aims to secure greater resources and raise public awareness of the Hong Kong lacrosse team's efforts as the sport makes its Olympic debut.

To strengthen the strong pipeline of innovation and technology talent, HKJC established the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application in 2024. The fellowship provides comprehensive support and unique opportunities for early career researchers to advance research translation, expand professional networks and create social impact.

Jeff Lam is one of this year’s fellows. The JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship has given him greater flexibility to pursue innovative research and collaborate with fellow scientists. After completing his PhD at the University of Cambridge, he returned to Hong Kong to research Alzheimer’s disease among the Chinese population. Though East Asians who carry APOE4 - the strongest genetic risk factor — face a higher likelihood of developing the disease, they remain underrepresented in existing studies. He aspires to help bridge this critical research gap by producing findings that are more relevant to Asian communities. He also looks forward to collaborating with local organizations such as the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing to support dementia patients and give back to the community.

The ceremony also marked the first induction of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships, reflecting HKJC’s holistic support for higher education. The professorships aim to advance research in areas of global health and sustainability, benefiting communities in Hong Kong and beyond.

HKJC’s support for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships, Fellowships and Endowed Professorships, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

HKJC Special