Maryknoll Convent School Foundation Launches “The Knoll - Jockey Club Maryknoll Centre for Heritage, Education and Service” Revitalisation and Service Project for the Community

To commemorate the centenary of Maryknoll Convent School(MCS), the school’s sponsoring body, Maryknoll Convent School Foundation Limited (the Foundation) is pleased to announce the launch of a revitalisation and service project for the community at the Convent Building, a declared monument. The project, titled “The Knoll - Jockey Club Maryknoll Centre for Heritage, Education and Service”, is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Artist Impression of revitalised Convent Building's exterior.

Artist Impression of revitalised Convent Building's exterior.

The two-storey Convent Building is located to the east of MCS’s Main Building, near the Primary Section’s entrance on Boundary Street in Kowloon Tong. Opened in 1937, the Convent Building initially served as an "industrial department" where young women from underprivileged backgrounds gained financial independence through learning sewing and embroidery skills and making religious vestments for priests. From the 1970s, the building functioned as a dormitory for Maryknoll Sisters until it was handed over to the Foundation in 2019. Subsequent investigation of the building revealed a hidden attic filled with artefacts and documents testifying to the long history of service by the Maryknoll Sisters.

Discoveries in the attic.

Discoveries in the attic.

Discoveries in the attic.

In honour of the Sisters’ legacy of service and education and to pass on the spirit of service, the Foundation will be transforming the Convent Building into a centre for heritage, community service and education.

Artist Impression of revitalised Convent Building's interior.

Ms. Cordelia Chung, Chairperson of MCS Foundation, said, “Maryknoll Sisters have made significant contributions to primary and secondary education in Hong Kong over the years. This remarkable building stands as a further testament to their enduring spirit of community care. We recognise that the Foundation has inherited not just a beautiful historical building, but also a mission dedicated to education and female empowerment.In light of this, the Foundation is undertaking a revitalisation project to transform the Convent Building into a centre for heritage, education, and service. We hope this heritage building continues to bring light and warmth to our society.”

Ms. Cordelia Chung, Chairperson of MCS Foundation.

The project is supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with an approved donation of over $91 million.

Ms. Shelley Lee, President of MCS Educational Trust, remarked, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Jockey Club’s Charities Trust for its generous donation to this revitalisation project. As we celebrate the centenary of Maryknoll Convent School, this project stands as a powerful testament to our commitment to carrying forward the Sisters' legacy of care and support for community, women and youth.”

Ms. Shelley Lee, President of MCS Educational Trust.

Advanced construction work is set to begin in July 2024 and will be followed by the main construction work in 2025, with completion in 2027. Upon its commissioning in late 2027,the centre will be open for NGOs and the public for visits and specific uses.

An advisory committee has been established to provide professional guidance on the construction work. Members include Dr. Joseph Lee, GBS, OStJ, JP, Chairman of Wofoo Plastics & Chemicals Group, President of Wofoo Social Enterprises Limited and Chairman of Wofoo Foundation Limited; Prof Hon Lau Chi Pang, BBS, JP; Associate Vice President (Institutional Advancement and External Affairs) of Lingnan University and a member of the Legislative Council; Dr. Anita Chung, Head of Heritage at Tai Kwun; and Ms. Pauline Ng, SBS, former Secretary General of the Legislative Council Secretariat and Adjunct Professor of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Project Team.

The 700-sqm Convent Building forms part of the cluster of buildings that comprises the MCS campus at Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, built in 1937. Due to its architectural uniqueness and well-preserved condition, MCS was declared a monument in 2008.

Exterior of Convent Building.

Extracurricular activities provide children with opportunities to explore personal interests and broaden their horizons. However, families with limited financial resources may find it difficult to afford them. Responding to this need, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has initiated and funded JC Project MuSE, approving over HK$400 million to provide free, high-quality and tailored music and sports programmes to primary school students in underprivileged areas of Hong Kong.

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki (back row, centre),Club Chairman Michael Lee (back row, 7th left) and other guests pose for a photo with mentors and mentees from the Strive and Rise Programme.

To celebrate the launch of the project, as well as the Club’s 140th Anniversary, the Project MuSE Concert was held today (17 April) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, bringing together students from JC Project MuSE as well as musical talents nurtured by other projects supported by the Club.

Officiating at the launch ceremony were HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, Club Chairman Michael Lee and JC Project MuSE Advisory Committee Convenor Jat Sew-tong.

Club Chairman Michael Lee delivers a speech at the launch of JC Project MuSE.

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Chairman Michael Lee said that sports and culture is one of the priority funding areas of the Club’s Charities Trust. Through providing a wide variety of music and sports education and performance opportunities, JC Project MuSE aims to help students from primary schools in underprivileged areas of our city boost their confidence and sense of self-worth and so nurture their holistic development. All of this is on display in the Club’s 140th Anniversary Project MuSE Concert, which not only showcases the exceptional talent of young musicians but also demonstrates our city’s cultural richness, vitality and diversity in supporting Hong Kong’s goal of becoming an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the national 14th Five-Year Plan.

Officiating at the launch ceremony of JC Project MuSE were HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki (back row, centre), Club Chairman Michael Lee (back row, left) and JC Project MuSE Advisory Committee Convenor Jat Sew-tong (back row,right), accompanied by ten students of JC Project MuSE.

Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki congratulated the Club on its 140th Anniversary and expressed his gratitude to the Trust for its tireless work improving lives, supporting communities and shaping the city’s cultural landscape. Welcoming the launch of JC Project MuSE, he said that it is an important contribution towards an inclusive, creative and vibrant Hong Kong. By offering free, high-quality, and tailored music and sports education programmes to underprivileged primary students, the programme will empower them with diverse learning experiences and foster their whole-person development.

The concert opened with a performance by around one hundred primary school students participating in JC Project MuSE, who showcased the musical and sporting skills they had learned, including Wushu and taekwondo.

The concert opened with a performance by around one hundred primary school students participating in JC Project MuSE, who showcased the musical and sporting skills they had learned, including Wushu and taekwondo. During the concert, musical talent nurtured under various Trust-funded music programmes performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. These included solo virtuosos from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships, awardees of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, and visually impaired artists featured in the inclusive arts, No Limits festival, which was co-presented by the Trust. Other performers included participants in the Strive and Rise Programme, students from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts performing with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Collection of String Instruments, students from the Jockey Club TUTTI Programme, Musicus Society, the Hong Kong String Orchestra and the Music Children Foundation.

Over 900 students and their parents and teachers from JC Project MuSE, as well as over 240 participants and mentors from the Strive and Rise Programme, were invited to enjoy the concert, providing more underprivileged students with opportunities to engage with and experience the pleasure of music.

Students from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts perform using instruments from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Collection of String Instruments.

JC Project MuSE is a six-year school-based music and sports education programme developed with reference to the renowned El Sistema model. Targeting primary school children in underprivileged areas, the project aims to cultivate their interest in the arts and sports from a young age, so ensuring they have equal opportunities for growth and learning regardless of background or identity, thus promoting their holistic development.

The project offers three tiers of quality school-based music and sports programmes, tailored to different interest levels and abilities. The first tier offers entry-level taster programmes, such as workshops, mini concerts and fun sports classes. The second tier provides continuous training, enabling students to pursue advanced learning in at least one sport or musical discipline and to participate in ensembles or school sports teams. The project also provides musical instruments and sports equipment at schools. In the third tier, advanced training will be offered to support high-potential sports and musical talent, including scholarships or financial support for professional courses, and opportunities for overseas training. Other key components include professional development for music tutors and sports coaches, as well as opportunities to participate in performances, community showcases and sports competitions, enabling students to showcase their skills while enhancing parental support and community engagement.

JC Project MuSE began with a pilot in 2024, with five primary schools currently participating. The aim is to expand to 15 primary schools in the 2026/27 school year in the most impoverished districts, such as Kwun Tong, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, and North District. The project is expected to benefit over 100,000 children and their families, teachers and community members, with more than 8,000 students receiving continuous or advanced music and sports training. JC Project MuSE is co-organised by Hong Kong Baptist University, SF&OC Sports Legacy, The Education University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Further details can be found on the JC Project MuSE website: www.jcprojectmuse.hk.

As a not-for-profit sports and charity organisation rooted in Hong Kong for 140 years, the Club has a unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong. Under the banner “With You. Then. Now. Always.” the Club is organising a series of celebratory initiatives to mark its 140th Anniversary and to recognise Hong Kong people’s contribution to its mission, which is to act continuously for the betterment of society. For more information, visit https://campaign.hkjc.com/140/en/.