Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project hosts three-day conference to showcase achievements and advance digital transformation in family services

The Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project is hosting a three-day project finale and international conference which started today (26 August) under the theme of “Empowering Families in the Digital Age”. The conference is showcasing the project’s best practices, with expert speakers from Hong Kong and overseas sharing insights on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in family services.

The project, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of nearly HK$330 million, supports 26 Integrated Family Service Centres (IFSCs) and Integrated Services Centres (ISCs) operated by NGOs across the city, in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University. Its aim is to leverage ICT to enhance family services. The project also provides training and service data analytics to drive innovation and digital transformation in the family service sector, with the ultimate goal of fostering family well-being. The project has benefited over 340,000 service users since it was launched in 2018.

Guests officiating at the opening ceremony of the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Finale cum International Conference 2025 included Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (2nd right); Jackson Woo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd left); Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University (1st right); and Professor Yang Wang, Vice President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Advancement) of The University of Hong Kong (1st left).

An opening ceremony for the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Finale cum International Conference 2025 was held today, officiated by Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Jackson Woo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Professor Alexander Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University; and Professor Yang Wang, Vice-President and Pro-ViceChancellor (Institutional Advancement) of The University of Hong Kong.

Club Steward Jackson Woo remarked: “As one of the world’s leading charitable donors,the Club is committed to promoting innovation through technology and enhancing the capabilities of social welfare organisations. It also encourages cross-sector collaboration to address evolving social needs and support Hong Kong’s long-term development. The Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project has brought together muliti-disciplinary partnerships to improve the efficiency and quality of family services and drive digital transformation across the social service sector. The results achieved over the past seven years have been truly encouraging.”

Jackson Woo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, delivers a speech at the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Finale cum International Conference 2025.

In addition to a thematic forum titled “Mapping the Way Forward for Greater Impact: Digital Innovation for Next-Generation Family Services”, the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Finale cum International Conference 2025 features a series of keynote and plenary presentations, showcasing successful practices from the Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project as well as examples of local experience. These sessions are intended to facilitate knowledge sharing among local and international experts, professionals, NGOs and academics on the use of technology and data to enhance innovation and service efficiency in family services. They also serve as a platform for building networks and partnerships among local and international field experts for future collaboration and the sector’s sustainable development. The conference has attracted some 300 in-person participants, with more than 300 joining online from the Greater Bay Area and overseas.

The Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project enhances the effectiveness of services provided by IFSCs and ISCs by supporting their application of ICT across four key areas. Its i-Connect is the first cross-organisational service management system specifically designed for family services in Hong Kong, helping to reduce manual input and administrative work. It also assists in the early identification of high-risk cases. The Data Analytics System enables centre supervisors and front-line staff to analyse data —including from i-Connect — to strengthen service planning and risk assessment. The project also assists centres in developing innovative blended modes of services tailored to their specific needs, combining face-to-face and online services, and provides them with training and support. In addition, the project enhances the sector’s ICT capacity by providing training for social workers. It has also developed a digital resource hub, offering a wide range of practical reference materials to support the advancement of family services in Hong Kong.

The Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project Finale cum International Conference 2025 has attracted some 300 in-person participants, with more than 300 joining online from the Greater Bay Area and overseas.

Since its launch, the i-Connect system has handled over 47,000 cases. More than 90% of centre supervisors indicated that technology and data analytics have improved service efficiency, supported informed decision making and enhanced service quality. Thirteen innovative blended mode intervention models have been developed in reponse to localised family needs. The project has also organised over 4,800 tech-assisted activities and 150 capacity-building training sessions, benefiting over 340,000 service users and more than 3,400 social workers.

The Club’s support for Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, like all its charity and community contributions, 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 TWGHs “iRun” – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026 (iRun) took place today (11 January) along the Central and Western District Promenade and Lung Wo Road. This year, the event, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, saw a record turnout of over 5,500 runners of varying abilities and their pair-up partners joined the fun while promoting social inclusion.

Over 5,500 runners, including participants of varying abilities and their pair-up partners, participated in iRun 2026 to promote social inclusion within the community.

Among the officiating guests cheering on the runners were HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun, Club Steward Philip Lo and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 1st Vice-Chairman York Tseng.

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (3rd left), Club Steward Philip Lo (3rd right) and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 1st Vice-Chairman York Tseng (2nd left) officiate at the TWGHs “iRun” – Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026.

Club Steward Philip Lo (centre) receives a souvenir from HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (left), accompanied by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals the 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee Jason Lee (right).

HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun (centre), Club Steward Philip Lo (right) and iRun ambassador So Wa-wai (left).

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Philip Lo emphasised that the significance of iRun extends beyond a single day of competition. The initiative provides diverse support to improve participants’ physical health and foster social inclusion. The Club has always placed great emphasis on the community’s needs, with “Health” being one of the strategic priorities of its Charity’s Trust. It consistently supports various organisations, including the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs), to launch initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles and enhance citizens’ overall quality of life.

Club Steward Philip Lo delivers a speech at the starting ceremony of the TWGHs “iRun” – Hong Kong Jockey Club Special Marathon 2026.

Organised by TWGHs and supported by the Trust since 2012, iRun aims to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of sports and become more involved with the community. 

A member of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team and runner pose for a photo.

This year’s event welcomed participants not only from Hong Kong but also Beijing, Guangdong Province and Macau. Runners with intellectual disabilities were paired with volunteers in a 3km challenge race, with pre-race training sessions arranged to help pairs get to know each other. The winning teams will receive sponsorship to participate in marathons outside Hong Kong, broadening their horizons and boosting their self-esteem.

Club Steward Philip Lo with CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners.

This year, the event once again hosted the 1km “iRun for Family”, giving children aged six to 11 with intellectual disabilities and their families the chance to enjoy sporting fun together. To further promote social inclusion, a new “1km iRun Group” race was introduced to include participants with disabilities such as visually impairment, hearing impairment or those undergoing mental rehabilitation. About 800 volunteers, including members of the Club’s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, participated as pair-up runners or helpers to share the joy of running.

CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners receive the trophy for the Corporate Social Inclusion Tournament.

Additionally, the “i-Runners’ Club” provides regular training for participants under the guidance of professional coaches, while “Green Marathon” elements remain integral to the event to encourage waste reduction and recycling, and advocate for environmental awareness.

The Club’s support for iRun, 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.

Club Steward Philip Lo with CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team members and runners.