Jockey Club Launches Collaborative Project to Promote Workplace Integration for Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong

To support employment for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and promote inclusivity, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is supporting the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment with an approved donation of over HK$130 million. The three-year project is expected to benefit around 3,000 PWDs, their carers and relevant professionals. The official kick-off ceremony took place today (2 May), followed by the opening of a three-day inclusive market fair. The fair aims to raise public awareness of inclusive employment and create more opportunities for PWDs, further enhancing workplace inclusion in Hong Kong.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (centre) visits the market fair.

The kick-off ceremony of the project was officiated by HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun along with Club Steward Jackson Woo. Representatives from project partners and other support organisations also attended the ceremony.

Building a healthy community is one of the priority funding areas of the Club’s Charities Trust. The Club has all along been promoting the development of various types of rehabilitation services. Club Steward Jackson Woo said at the kick-off ceremony that the Club has been collaborating with different sectors to implement a variety of projects aimed at helping individuals in need integrate into the workplace. The Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment synergises cross-sectoral efforts to enhance employment support for PWDs, providing them with greater opportunities for the future while promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity in the society.

Club Steward Jackson Woo (2nd right) and other guests visit the market fair and interact with participating PWDs.

The Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment is run by eight academic institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The major components of the project include supporting PWDs from diverse backgrounds with strength-based employability assessments, so as to facilitate both employers and employees in matching relevant services and support. NGOs also provide the job seekers with personalised job preparation and specific vocational training. Furthermore, the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment collaborates with the Labour and Welfare Bureau to launch the “Caring Employer” medal, which recognises commitment and effort from employers of different sectors in promoting and achieving inclusiveness at workplace.

Club Steward Jackson Woo delivers a speech at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment.

The project is a collaborative effort involving The University of Hong Kong, Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired, The Education University of Hong Kong, Heep Hong Society, Hong Kong PHAB Association, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, SAHK and St. James’ Settlement to explore and implement sustainable and diverse inclusive employment solutions. The project also seeks collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Government departments, businesses and public bodies, to nurture an inclusive employment environment and ecosystem.

Almost 40 community partners are represented at the market fair, which takes place from 2 to 4 May at D·PARK in Tsuen Wan. There are inclusive performances and sharing sessions, such as dance and music shows, storybook reading and inclusive employment case sharing. There are also workshops in which visitors can create arts and crafts, such as personalised leather products, preserved flowers and fabric art, together with PWDs. Through these activities, the general public can recognise and appreciate the potential and diverse talents of PWDs.

Officiating at the kick-off ceremony of the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment were HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (centre) and Club Steward Jackson Woo (6th left). They pose a photo with Imelda Chan, Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; and Healthy Community) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (6th right) and other guests.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment, 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.

The grand final of the ninth CoolThink@JC Competition, which encourages primary school students to leverage digital creativity to solve everyday problems, was held today (5 July) at City University of Hong Kong. The team from King’s College Old Boys’ Association Primary School No.2 emerged as the champion in the “App Inventor” category, while the winner of the “Scratch” category was the team from St Mary’s Canossian School.

Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy at the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government (front row, centre), Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (front row, 3rd left) and other guests at the CoolThink@JC Competition grand final.

Organised by CoolThink@JC, a project initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, this year’s competition attracted more than 120 team entries, with 40 teams advancing to the finals. Among them, eight outstanding teams progressed to the grand final to compete for top honours. Today, the shortlisted teams set up booths to present their app designs and ideas to the public and a judging panel comprising professionals from the education, information technology and business sectors.

Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st right) presents the award for the “Scratch” category to the winning team from St Mary’s Canossian School.

Presenting awards at the grand final were Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government; and Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy at the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government (1st right) presents the award for the “App Inventor” category to the winning team from King’s College Old Boys’ Association Primary School No.2.

Speaking at the grand final, Winnie Ying said it was a great honour to witness the innovative ideas presented at the ninth edition of the CoolThink@JC Competition. The event stands as a testament to the Club’s collective efforts in fostering computational thinking and creativity among Hong Kong’s upper primary school students, she added. Since its launch in 2016, CoolThink@JC has reached over 100,000 students and trained more than 2,000 teachers.

Group photo.

Together with other Trust-funded STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education projects, the Club aims to equip students with essential skills required for a 21st-century workforce. It seeks to enhance digital competency among youngsters, aligning with the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Policy Address to promote digital education.

Beyond the competition, students will have the opportunity to participate in exchange activities with Mainland schools this summer through the project’s sister school partnerships. This is aimed at fostering collaboration in computational thinking and artificial intelligence education between the Mainland and Hong Kong, promoting cultural understanding and innovative ideas. Last month, a Memorandum of Understanding titled “CoolThink@JC × Cambodia Sharing and Exchange Programme” was signed with Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, which plans to adopt and adapt the CoolThink@JC curriculum in Cambodian primary schools. This partnership aims to ensure equitable access to quality computational thinking education, nurturing future-ready talent in both Hong Kong and Cambodia.

The shortlisted teams of the CoolThink@JC Competition at their booths, presenting their app designs and ideas to the public.

CoolThink@JC is created and funded by the Club’s Charities Trust, co-created by The Education University of Hong Kong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and City University of Hong Kong. Launched in 2016, the project aims to empower upper primary students with problem solving and creative skills for the digital age, enabling them to become creators of technology. It has garnered three prestigious international accolades, including the Silver Award in the Engineering & Technology category and the Bronze Award in the Teaching & Learning category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2021, as well as an international accreditation from the International Society for Technology in Education—attesting to its significant impact and excellence. It has also reached all publicly-funded primary schools in Hong Kong in 2024. The Education Bureau has adopted and adapted the project’s learning materials for its curriculum modules on innovation and technology education. For more details, please visit: http://www.coolthink.hk/.

The Club’s support for CoolThink@JC, 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.