Celebrating 140 Years: Jockey Club commits HK$1.4 billion to youth development initiatives

In celebration of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s 140th anniversary, the Club announced today (13 April) that its Charities Trust has committed HK$1.4 billion to support five youth development initiatives. These include two strategic collaborations with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) announced in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.

Officiating guests, Club Stewards, members of the Club’s Board of Management and representatives from project partners pose for a photo.

This announcement was the highlight of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day at Sha Tin Racecourse, attended by over 200 charity and community representatives. Officiating were HKSAR Government Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak, Club Chairman Michael Lee, Club Deputy Chairman Martin Liao and Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak (2nd right), Club Chairman Michael Lee (2nd left), Club Deputy Chairman Martin Liao (1st right) and Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (1st left) officiate at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day, which saw the Club announce five youth development initiatives.

Club Chairman Michael Lee said that young people are vital to our society’s sustainable and prosperous development. This is why Youth Development and Poverty Alleviation is one of the priority areas of the Club’s charities strategy. With this in mind, the Club has initiated and supported a wide range of programmes designed to help young people become active citizens and make a difference in society. The youth initiatives announced today aim to provide young people with enhanced support, diverse experiences and development opportunities that will equip them for the future. The Club hopes through these measures to nurture a new generation of multi-talented young people, who will not only feel hope for the future but be ready to contribute to society’s development. The Club looks forward to strengthening multilateral collaboration as it works with its partners to launch more innovative initiatives to address the changing needs of our society.

Club Chairman Michael Lee said the Club hopes the five youth initiatives will nurture a new generation of multi-talented young people, who will not only feel hope for the future but be ready to contribute to society’s development.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak emphasised the HKSAR Government’s commitment to youth development, and expressed her appreciation for the Club’s longstanding support to the relevant work, including the two strategic collaborations with the Club’s Charities Trust announced in the 2024 Policy Address, namely the enhanced HYAB JC Scheme for Youth Life Planning, launched by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission (YDC), which aims to assist secondary school students in realising their life planning and seizing national development opportunities; and the conversion of part of Youth Square into a new interactive space where young people can gather, exchange ideas, develop their potential and participate in different activities.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak expressed he appreciation for the longstanding support provided by the Club’s Charities Trust’s for youth development in Hong Kong.

The five projects aim to “level up” young people at critical periods in their developmental journey and help them build a resilient sense of self and trajectory in life, thereby establishing a foundation for a successful future. They also echo President Xi Jinping's remarks that Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive, as well as the latest youth development initiatives announced in the annual Policy Address. The key components of the donation are:

1. HYAB JC Scheme for Youth Life Planning

The Trust has provided funding to support this enhanced scheme implemented by the HYAB and the YDC, which aims to assist secondary school students in realising their life planning. The scheme encourages successful applicants and their collaborating schools to apply the core elements of the Trust-created and funded Project CLAP@JC, including the Hong Kong Benchmarks for Career and Life Development©, CV360®, and the Youth Career Development Competency Scale.

2. New interactive space at Youth Square

Youth Square (YS), operating since 2010, is a key HKSAR Government initiative to promote youth development. As announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the HYAB will convert part of YS to establish a new interactive space with funding support from the Trust. Young people are invited to suggest uses, facilities and operation modes for this space. In addition, the HYAB will roll out the “Good Stories of Hong Kong Youth” Programme by reserving part of YS for setting up a video studio for young people to produce videos showcasing positive stories of Hong Kong youth, and providing relevant training on production and filming of video clippings.

3. JC Campsite Reimagination Project

Most of Hong Kong's recreational campsites, built between the 1960s and 1980s with initial funding from the Trust, now require redevelopment to meet modern needs. The upgraded campsites will provide the community, especially young people, with unique recreational and educational experiences, reinforcing the many positive benefits of outdoor learning and helping to improve physical and mental well-being. To date, three projects have been approved: Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village by Chinese Young Men’s Christian Association of Hong Kong in Ma On Shan, Bradbury Camp by The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong in Wong Yi Chau, and Choi Chee Ming Luen Kwong Scout Centre by The Scout Association of Hong Kong in Yuen Long.

4. Enhancing Life Mobility Potential of Youth

This Trust-initiated project seeks to enhance the life mobility potential of young people through an innovative multi-stage intervention model. The project will help them develop a sense of agency, while a two-year “Professional Traineeship” programme for young graduates entering the workforce will help enhance their social mobility.

5. JC Echoes of Love Fund

Established and funded by the Trust and operated by the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, this project has developed a positive trajectory framework for bereaved children and young people under the age of 18 impacted by the loss of a parent. A professional team of dedicated Trajectory Development Managers provides bereavement support services and designs individualised development plans for bereaved children. To facilitate the implementation of these plans, the Fund offers a monthly stipend of a maximum of HK$2,000 for up to five years. The project will benefit about 1,000 bereaved children and young people and their caregivers.

Club Chairman Michael Lee (centre), CLAP@JC Social Worker Leung Chi-ho (right) and CLAP@JC Youth Beneficiary Lau Chun-ming (left).

The Club initiated the annual Community Day race meeting in 2005 as a way of honouring its successful partnerships with Government and community organisations 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 the Club's charitable contributions to the community. It has since been renamed The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy. It was won this year by GUSTOSISIMO, ridden by Angus Chung. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak presented the trophy to owner Edwin Cheung.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak (front row, 2nd right) presents The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy to Edwin Cheung (front row, 2nd left), owner of the winning horse GUSTOSISIMO. The historic 170-year-old trophy was generously donated by the late Tobias Brown in recognition of the Club’s charitable contributions to the community.

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/.

Officiating guests, Club Stewards and members of the Club’s Board of Management toast the success of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Day.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Trophy presentation ceremony.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) announced at the 10th JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme graduation ceremony today (15 June) the names of six outstanding young leaders who will travel to Manchester, England to participate in a series of activities organised by the Manchester United and its Foundation to learn about the local football culture and engage in community football services .

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (back row, 1st left); Manchester United legend Bryan Robson (back row, 2nd left); Hong Kong Head Coach, Manchester United Soccer Schools, Christopher O’Brien (back row, 3rd left) and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals’ 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee, Jason Lee (back row, 4th left) with six outstanding leaders of the 10th JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme. They have been awarded an opportunity to visit Manchester.

The scheme, organised by the Club in collaboration with Manchester United and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), supported by funding from the Club’s Charities Trust for programme operation this year, was completed by 53 youngsters aged between 15 and 19. The six-month programme, comprising activities including football event organisation training, star mentor workshops, personal challenge and community football activities, helps young people to develop leadership potential and contributes to the betterment of our society.

The Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme helps young people develop physically, mentally and socially.

The Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said that as a world-class sports organisation, the Club is strongly committed to supporting sports development in schools, the community and at the elite level. The Club actively seeks opportunities, such as the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme and a series of activities in collaboration with Manchester United, to strengthen connectivity between East and West for youngsters’ benefit. He congratulated the graduates and said he believed the scheme has helped young people seize opportunities and develop physically, mentally and socially.

The Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme helps young people develop physically, mentally and socially.

During the ceremony, held at Happy Valley Racecourse, the Club’s CEO presented each of the six outstanding leaders with a Certificate of Merit. Selected on the basis of their outstanding attitude and performance, they will participate in the football-cultural exchange tour to Manchester in August. Four other leaders were presented with a  Most Improved Award by TWGHs’ 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee, Jason Lee.

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson, one of the most influential footballers of the 1980s and 1990s, nicknamed “Captain Marvel” for his performances with both England and Manchester United, witnessed the young leaders’ graduation. He shared tips on good leadership and experiences from his Manchester United career, which spanned 13 seasons.

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson witnesses the graduation ceremony and shares leadership tips with participants.

The Club has worked as a Hong Kong Community Football Partner of Manchester United since 2012, launching various programmes to support youth development at school, community and elite levels. More than 480 youngsters have participated in the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme since 2014. Notably, 48 outstanding young leaders have had the opportunity to visit Manchester.

Manchester United legend Bryan Robson (left) watches the Summer Series races at Sha Tin Racecourse on Saturday (14 June) with the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right).

Over the years, the Club has promoted sports at both the community and elite levels through numerous initiatives, enabling people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to enjoy sports. Funded by the Club in partnership with the Government, the Hong Kong Sports Institute was established in 1982 (initially named Jubilee Sports Centre) as a training base for elite local athletes. In 2021, the Club pledged HK$150 million to match the HKSAR Government’s HK$150 million grant for the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme.