The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to supporting the HKSAR Government’s Strive and Rise Programme. Since its launch, the Club and its Charities Trust has approved a cumulative donation of around HK$31 million to support the implementation of all three of its cohorts. The initiative helps young participants broaden their horizons, build selfconfidence, develop a positive outlook on life and set meaningful goals for the future.
Chris Sun, HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare (centre); Ma Cong, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province (3rd right); Raymond Tam, the Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Affairs (3rd left); Yvonne Yeung, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Chief Executive (2nd right), and other guests attended the Strive and Rise Programme Sichuan study tour welcome dinner.
Following a positive response to the programme’s first Club-supported summer study tour last year to Hangzhou, the Club is once again supporting over 90 students from the third cohort to take part in a five-day study tour to Sichuan this summer. The tour will give the students an opportunity to explore Sichuan’s rich cultural heritage, gain insights into its latest technological and economic developments, and deepen their sense of national pride.
To welcome the students to Sichuan, a dinner was held today (11 August) in Chengdu, attended by Chris Sun, the HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare; Ma Cong, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Sichuan Province; Raymond Tam, the Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Affairs; Yvonne Yeung, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Chief Executive; and other guests, includingfive Club student mentors.
Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, thanked the Club for its strong commitment to and generous support of the Strive and Rise Programme. This includes support for all three cohorts and the Sichuan study tour, all of which help to broaden the students’ horizons, enrich their knowledge and reinforce their self-confidence. He also encouraged students tomake the most of this rewarding exchange opportunity, noting that the experience willserve as a valuable asset for their future.
Raymond Tam, the Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, reaffirmed the Club’sstrong commitment to empowering youth from diverse backgrounds. Over the years, the Club has supported and launched many initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to become active citizens and contribute meaningfully to society, he said. It has also sought to cultivate their sense of cultural identity and pride in the nation.
Chris Sun, HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare (3rd right) and Raymond Tam, the Club’s Executive Director, Corporate Affairs (3rd left) engage with students during the dinner.
He added that following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, the Club pledged HK$1 billion to support various reconstruction and capacity-building projects in the province. As part of the five-day study tour, participants will visit two of these projects, offering them insights into the outcome of the partnership between Sichuan and Hong Kong. Students will visitrenowned cultural landmarks, historical sites and innovative enterprises. The tour will also provide opportunities for participants to interact with local youths to foster stronger engagement and friendships among young people.
One of the Club-supported projects the students will visit is the Sichuan University-The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, the first of its kind in China. The Institute integrates scientific research, talent development and social services in the fields of disaster prevention and reduction, and post-disaster reconstruction. It also provides education and training for high-level professionals inrelated fields, contributing significantly to the long-term enhancement of the region’s disaster resilience.
Freely Cheng, the Club’s Head of External Affairs (4th row, centre); Ronald Chan, the Club's Head of Mainland Affairs (Policy and Stakeholders Engagement) (4th row, 13th left), Club mentors and other Sichuan study tour participants at Hong Kong International Airport before their departure.
The other Club-supported project on the students’ schedule is the Sichuan HKJC Olympic School. The Club funded construction of the school in response to the severe impact of the earthquake on sports talent development in Sichuan. The school combines sports trainingand academic education, aiming to cultivate a new generation of elite athletes.
The first cohort of the Strive and Rise Programme was launched in 2022. Through tripartite collaboration between the HKSAR Government, the business sector and the community, the programme aims to help secondary school students set goals for the future and strive for upward mobility.
The Club, as one of the vice-chairpersons of the programme’s Partners’ Board, has not only provided financial support but also nominated over 40 employees, along with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships scholars and fellows invarious sectors, to become volunteer mentors for the third cohort. Student participants are also invited to visit Club facilities, including Tai Kwun, The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, Equine Hospital and Tuen Mun Public Riding School.The Club’s support for the Strive and Rise Programme, 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 Hong Kong Jockey Club today (28 April) celebrated Hong Kong’s next generation of leaders and innovators at its Scholarships and Fellowships Award Presentation Ceremony and High Table Dinner. In total 110 scholarships and 10 STEM fellowships were presented and 45 graduating JC Scholars recognised. The annual event, which also saw the inauguration of five Endowed Professorships, underlined the Club’s long standing commitment to education and talent development.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 5th right); Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (front row, 5th left); Club Stewards Nicolas Hunsworth (front row, 4th left), Dr Henry Chan (front row, 3rd right), Anita Fung(front row, 3rd left), Jackson Woo (front row,2nd right), Philip Lo (front row, 2nd left), Rimsky Yuen (front row, 1st right) and John Lo (1st left); Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 4th right); Club Executive Director, Sports Business, Casper Stylsvig (back row, 1st right);Club Executive Director, Charities and Community, Dr Gabriel Leung (back row, 3rd left);Club Executive Director, People and Organisational Development, Dr Lake Wang (backrow, 2nd left); Club Executive Director, Security, Integrity and Information Security,Moray Taylor-Smith (back row, 3rd right); Club Executive Director, Legal andCompliance, James Bidlake (back row, 2nd right); and Club Chief Transformation Officer,Serena Lin (back row, 1st left) attended the dinner to witness and share the joy of the awardees.
The ceremony was hosted by Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao, who was joined by keynote speaker Professor Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School. Witnessing the occasion were Club Stewards, the Club’s CEO and members of the Club’s management team, together with representatives of participating tertiary institutions. Also sharing the joy were family members and friends of award recipients.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao delivers a speech at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships and Fellowships Award Presentation Ceremony and High Table Dinner.
Speaking at the ceremony, Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said that the Club well understands that people are Hong Kong’s most precious resource. That is why the Club has long invested in human capital and education, to propel the city’s economic development and sustain the prosperity of our nation.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, centre) with recipients of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman’s Scholarship.
In her keynote speech, Professor Anita Elberse reflected on her research into the world’s most accomplished sports and entertainment organisations and emphasised that success is not left to chance, but built on placing people at the centre, setting the highest standards and learning continuously – even in 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.
Keynote speaker Professor Anita Elberse congratulates awardees at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships and Fellowships Award Presentation Ceremony and High Table Dinner.
Launched in 1998, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships were established to nurture compassionate, socially minded leaders for the betterment of society. Over the years, the programme has expanded to encompass vocational education, undergraduates from the Chinese Mainland and overseas studying in Hong Kong, and students who have overcome significant adversity. A new music and dance scholarship has also been introduced for young talent pursuing professional studies in music and dance at leading institutions outside Hong Kong. To date, over HK$1.25 billion1 has been approved, benefiting more than 1,200 outstanding young people.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, centre) with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Striding On Scholarship awardees.
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, centre) with graduating JC Scholars.
JC Scholars have continued to make meaningful contributions to society. Over the past year, Striding On Scholars won a number of medals in national and international para table-tennis competitions. Winnie Pang, recipient of a Striding On Scholarship this year, was born with congenital cerebral palsy affecting her right limbs. Despite the challenges, she has demonstrated remarkable discipline in balancing her studies with elite sports training. She represented HKSAR at the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities which took place in December last year, where she won one gold and two silver medals in table tennis.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (centre) with JC Scholars Sunny Wong (2nd right), Winnie Pang (1st left), Samantha Yeung (1st right) and JC STEM Early Career Research Fellow Dr Jeff Lam (2nd left).
Striding On Scholars have achieved outstanding results at national and international para table-tennis competitions. Among them is Winnie Pang (left), who has also received cash awards under the Hong Kong Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme in recognition of her outstanding performance.
JC Scholar Sunny Wong (2nd left) and JC Scholar Winnie Pang (1st right) at a JC Scholar volunteer event.
To cultivate a strong pipeline of innovation and technology talent, the Club 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.
Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (front row, centre) with recipients of the JC STEM Early Career Research Fellowship for Translation and Application.
Dr Jeff Lam is one of this year’s JC STEM Early Career Research Fellows. After completing his PhD at the University of Cambridge, he chose to return to Hong Kong to research Alzheimer’s disease among the Chinese population. Though East Asians who carry APOE4, the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, face a higher risk of developing the disease, Asians, particularly Chinese population, are currently underrepresented in existing studies. He aspires to help fill this critical research gap by generating findings more relevant to Asian communities.
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre) with JC Scholars Sunny Wong (3rd right), Winnie Pang (1st right), and Samantha Yeung (2nd right); JC STEM Early Career Research Fellow Dr Jeff Lam (1st left) and graduating JC Scholars Rex Cheuk (3rd left) and Natalie Mak (2nd left).
JC STEM Early Career Research Fellow Dr Jeff Lam conducts research at the JC STEM Lab of Neurobiology and Therapeutics of Alzheimer’s Disease.
The ceremony also marked the first induction of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships, reflecting the Club’s holistic investment in higher education. The Endowed Professorships aim to advance research in areas of global health and sustainability, benefitting communities in Hong Kong and beyond.
Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (centre) with recipients of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professorships.
The Club’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.
Pictured with JC Scholars, JC STEM Early Career Research Fellows and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Endowed Professors are Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 7thleft); keynote speaker Professor Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School (front row, 7th right); members of the Club’s Board of Stewards; Club management members and representatives of participating tertiary institutions.
