Jockey Club presents cash incentive to Hong Kong Winter Olympics team member for first time, commending Joey Lam for historic achievement

The Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (JCAIAS) Presentation Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games was held today (3 May), with The Hong Kong Jockey Club presenting a cash incentive of HK$375,000 to Hong Kong, China team representative Joey Lam Ching-yan. The award was in recognition of her historic seventh-place finish in the Women’s Short Track Speed Skating 1,500m Final. It marked the first time since the launch of JCAIAS that an award had been presented to a Winter Olympics representative.

Guests in attendance at today’s ceremony included Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; Tang King-shing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute; and representatives from the Hong Kong, China delegation.

Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said that since the launch of Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme in 2023, nearly HK$95 million in cash incentives has been granted to Hong Kong, China athletes in recognition to their achievements in major sports events, providing them with support and encouraging them to keep striving for excellence and bring glory to Hong Kong.

Officiating at the event, Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, noted that Hong Kong, China sent four athletes to the Winter Olympics to compete in short track speed skating and alpine skiing events. Among them, short track speed skater Joey Lam Ching-yan, making her Olympic debut, achieved seventh place in the women’s 1500m event, marking a historic milestone for Hong Kong at the Winter Olympics. Rosanna Law expressed gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club for its continuous support through the “Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme”, which encourages and recognises athletes who achieve outstanding results at major sporting events.

Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said Lam’s display of speed and determination not only set a new record for the Hong Kong, China team at the Winter Olympics, but also exemplified the perseverance and “can-do” spirit of Hong Kong athletes. He added that Lam’s achievement helps to raise public interest in winter sports, encouraging youngsters to participate and pursue their dreams. He also noted that over the past decade, the Club has contributed nearly HK$6.7 billion to support elite and community sports, and will continue to advance Hong Kong’s sports development for the betterment of society.

Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club said that since the launch of Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme in 2023, nearly HK$95 million in cash incentives has been granted to Hong Kong, China athletes in recognition to their achievements in major sports events, providing them with support and encouraging them to keep striving for excellence and bring glory to Hong Kong.

“It is a great honour to compete on the Olympic stage. Racing alongside world-class athletes was an invaluable experience,” Joey Lam Ching-yan said. “It reinforced my belief that you should never give up until the very last moment. I sincerely thank my coaches for their dedicated guidance and my family for their unconditional support. I am also grateful to the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Club, the SF&OC and the community for their encouragement and support.”

Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (from left) with Hong Kong, China team representative Joey Lam Ching-yan, Darren Kwok and Adrian Yung at the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme Presentation Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The Club launched the three-year JCAIAS in 2023, sponsoring the HKSI to provide cash awards to Hong Kong, China athletes who win medals in major sports events. These include the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Asian Para Games, World University Games, National Games and National Para Games, and respective winter Games. For the Olympic and Paralympic Games, athletes who finish in fourth to eighth place are also rewarded. To date, nearly HK$95 million in cash incentives has been granted under the JCAIAS.

Rosanna Law, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (front row, 4th left); Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (front row, 3rd left); Timothy Fok, President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (front row, 1st left); Tang King-shing, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (front row, 2nd left) and guests, join Hong Kong, China team representative Joey Lam Ching-yan (front row, 3rd right), Darren Kwok (front row, 2nd right) and Adrian Yung (front row, 1st right) at the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme Presentation Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Over the years, the Club has promoted sports at both community and elite levels through numerous initiatives, enabling people of all ages and abilities to enjoy sports. Funded jointly by the Club and the Government, the HKSI (then called the Jubilee Sports Centre) opened in 1982. In 1992, the Club’s Charities Trust provided an endowment of HK$200 million to establish a trust fund, now called the Hong Kong Jockey Club Elite Athletes Fund. In 2021, the Club pledged HK$150 million in funding to match the HKSAR Government’s HK$150 million grant for the Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme.

Raymond Tam, Executive Director, Corporate Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (from left) with Hong Kong, China team representative Joey Lam Ching-yan, Darren Kwok and Adrian Yung at the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme Presentation Ceremony for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The annual Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade took place today (19 June), attracting hundreds of visitors and residents to celebrate one of the city’s unique traditions. Originating more than a century ago as a way to ward off plague and purify the community, the Water Parade is inscribed on the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has supported it since 2012, helping to preserve and promote a cherished local tradition.

Guests fire the ceremonial cannon at the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.

The opening ceremony was held at the Tai O Promenade, officiated by David Lam, Acting Secretary for Development of the HKSAR Government; Anita Fung, Club Steward; Wu Jiahao, Deputy Director of New Territories Work Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Ryerson Ip, Assistant District Officer (Islands) of the Islands District Office of the HKSAR Government; Judith Ng, Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the HKSAR Government and Fan Sum-kee, Chairman of the Joint Association of Traditional Dragon-Boats in Tai O.

David Lam, Acting Secretary for Development of the HKSAR Government (3rd right); Anita Fung, Club Steward (3rd left); Wu Jiahao, Deputy Director of New Territories Work Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR (2nd right); Ryerson Ip, Assistant District Officer (Islands) of the Islands District Office of the HKSAR Government (2nd left); Judith Ng, Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the HKSAR Government (1st left) and Fan Sum-kee, Chairman of the Joint Association of Traditional Dragon-Boats in Tai O (1st right) at the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.

Club Steward Anita Fung said that the Trust’s support for the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade has helped to maintain an important piece of national intangible cultural heritage as well as enabling the younger generation to appreciate its cultural significance. This year, three traditional dragon boats supported by the Trust made their debut, injecting new vitality into this century-old tradition.

Club Steward Anita Fung delivers a speech at the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.

Club Steward Anita Fung (right) presents souvenirs to participating organisations.

Since the inscription of the Water Parade onto the Third National List of ICH more than a decade ago, the Trust has donated over HK$9.5 million to support the event, including funding the construction of dragon boats, programme arrangements, manpower support and educational programmes. This year’s event brought together over 320 dragon boat paddlers and 160 volunteers and attracted hundreds of visitors. In addition to the Water Parade, educational activities helped deepen public understanding of its heritage and encourage younger generations to participate.

Three traditional dragon boats supported by the Club made their debut.

The Trust has long supported the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, encouraging public and youth participation through a diverse range of initiatives. In addition to the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, this includes the current Hong Kong ICH Month, as well as other local traditional events on the national heritage list: the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival. Since 2010, the Trust has donated over HK$167 million to support these ICH events and related educational programmes. These initiatives align with the HKSAR Government’s Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 and the National 15th Five-Year Plan, as different sectors of society work together to contribute to the country’s development.

Highlights of the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.

The Club’s support for the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, 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.

Highlights of the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade.