The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute officially commences operations, promoting vaccine development in support of disease prevention

A plaque unveiling ceremony for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute (HKJCGHI) was held today (17 October) at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong to mark the official commencement of operations at the institute. Supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the institute aims to enhance pandemic preparedness regionally and globally through vaccine research, development and capacity building.

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute global headquarters and laboratory.

The plaque unveiling ceremony was opened with a welcome remarks by Professor Leo Poon, Co-Director of the HKJCGHI, followed by a video message from Dr Cecilia Fan, HKSAR Government Acting Secretary for Health; and was witnessed by Dr Ronald Lam, HKSAR Government Director of Health; Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward; Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong; Wong Yan-lung, Deputy Chairman of the Friends of Cambridge University in Hong Kong, among other guests.

Dr Ronald Lam, HKSAR Government Director of Health (4th right); Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward (5th left); Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong (4th left); Wong Yan-lung, Deputy Chairman of the Friends of Cambridge University in Hong Kong (3rd right); Professor Lau Chak-sing, Dean of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (3rd left); Professor David Bishai, Director of the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong (2nd left); and the three co-directors of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute at the plaque unveiling ceremony of the institute.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Club Steward Dr Henry Chan said the HKJCGHI will advance vaccine research, development and implementation. This will synergise with the Club’s support for the HKSAR Government’s epidemic preparedness measures, building on the work of the Centre for Health Protection, which was established with Club funding following SARS.

Club Steward Dr Henry Chan delivers a speech at the plaque unveiling ceremony for The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute.

The Memorandum of Understanding to establish the HKJCGHI was signed in November 2023 between the University of Hong Kong, the University of Cambridge and the International Vaccine Institute, with the Club’s Charities Trust approving HK$563 million in funding support.

Group photo of Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward (2nd left), and the three co-directors of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute, including Professor Leo Poon (1st right), Professor Ravindra Gupta (2nd right), and Professor Florian Marks (1st left).

The HKJCGHI aims to enhance global pandemic preparedness through vaccine development. It aligns with the National 14th Five-Year Plan to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub, specifically in biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals.

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute global headquarters and laboratory.

The institute’s major areas of work include epidemiology and pandemic preparedness; health economics and modelling; vaccine process development; vaccine platform development; immunology; capacity building, training and global partnerships. The six functional units will host experts, employ specialised operating procedures, and utilise advance equipment and infrastructure to carry out the research.

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Global Health Institute global headquarters and laboratory.

The Club’s support for the HKJCGHI, 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 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.