Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme presents annual exhibition cum festival to promote ICH transmission

The flagship event of The Hong Kong Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme - “ICH+ Festival 2025/26” opened today (27 June) at the Jao Tsung-I Academy in Lai Chi Kok. Spanning over two weeks, the event adopts innovative approaches to blend traditional and contemporary elements, offering a wide range of activities including a series of exhibitions, interactive games, traditional craft workshops, and thematic sharing sessions fusing tradition with innovation.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+Festival 2025/26.

Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the programme is a collaboration between Lingnan University and Hong Kong Arts Centre. It aims to preserve, promote, redefine and revitalise Hong Kong’s rich and diverse ICH by offering a fresh perspective, while deepening public appreciation and understanding of its cultural value across the community.

Guests tour the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

Officiating at the festival’s opening ceremony were Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government; Ann Kung, Club Steward; Lau Chi-pang, Special Advisor to President on Publicity cum Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Lingnan University; and Peter Lau, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Hong Kong Arts Centre.

Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government (2nd right); Ann Kung, Club Steward (2nd left); Lau Chi-pang, Special Advisor to President on Publicity cum Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Lingnan University (1st right); and Peter Lau, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Hong Kong Arts Centre (1st left) officiating at the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26 opening ceremony.

Club Steward Ann Kung remarked that the Club has supported the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme since 2018. She highlighted it provides a wide range of activities through cross-sector collaboration, enabling the public – especially younger generations – to learn about, experience and practise traditional craftsmanship, foster cultural identity and carry forward the spirit of artisanship, injecting new momentum into the sustainable development and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.

Club Steward Ann Kung delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.

The programme has run activities at more than 600 secondary and primary schools, reached 30,000 students and 78 students of the professional ICH training programme to date, attracting public participation through exhibitions and community events, while the continued cultivation of a new generation of “ICH ambassadors” will further drive community engagement and awareness.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

The Club has long promoted the development of arts, culture and heritage to enrich community life. In addition to supporting traditional festivals on the national ICH list – including the Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival – the Club is also the sole sponsor of a series of programmes under ICH Month 2026. Among the highlight was The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: “Journey of the Horse: A Legacy of Arts and Culture” Light Show, held earlier as one of the signature events of the Club’s Year of the Horse initiatives. Since 2010, the Trust has donated more than HK$167 million to support 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, contributing to the further development of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Highlights of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme – ICH+ Festival 2025/26.

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education 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.

Group photo.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is supporting youthfest@HK for the fourth consecutive year, with the 2026 edition launching today (28 July) at the HYAB JC Y Cube at Youth Square in Chai Wan. As the annual flagship initiative under the HKSAR Government’s Youth Development Blueprint, youthfest@HK provides a positive and inclusive platform for young people from diverse backgrounds to realise their potential, broaden their horizons and cultivate positive values, a strong sense of national identity and a global perspective. These experiences equip young people to meet future challenges with confidence. Since 2023, the Club has supported the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) in delivering youthfest@HK through the Chief Executive’s Community Project List, with an annual approved donation of HK$10 million from the Club’s Charities Trust.

Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government (5th right); Clarence Leung, Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government (9th left); Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (4th right); Patrick Li, Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government (8th left); Kenneth Leung, Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission (3rd right); Victor Pang, Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival of the Youth Development Commission (7th left), and Winnie So, Head of the Youth Link Committee (2nd right), officiate at the opening ceremony of youthfest@HK 2026.

Officiating guests at the launch ceremony included Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government; Clarence Leung, Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Patrick Li, Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Kenneth Leung, Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission; Victor Pang, Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival of the Youth Development Commission, and Winnie So, Head of the Youth Link Committee.

Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government (left) and Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (right) tour booths at the opening ceremony of youthfest@HK 2026.

Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government (left) and Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang (right) tour booths at the opening ceremony of youthfest@HK 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang said that the Club has always attached great importance to youth development. Through cross-sector collaboration and innovative thinking, it initiates and supports a wide range of projects that provide young people with diverse and equitable opportunities to develop their potential and contribute to society. He noted that the Club’s youth initiatives align closely with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR Government’s Youth Development Blueprint, through a commitment to nurturing a new generation with both a strong sense of national identity and a global vision. This includes the Club’s support for the Strive and Rise Programme since 2022, helping students from underprivileged backgrounds broaden their horizons, build confidence and better plan for their futures.

Club Deputy Chairman Lester Huang delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of youthfest@HK 2026.

Each year, youthfest@HK brings together the Government, business sector, academia and the wider community to organise around 200 diverse activities, attracting approximately 200,000 participants. One of the key programmes in the previous edition was Youth Fest Youth Quest, which featured thematic sharing sessions and direct dialogue with Alice Mak, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs. The programme encouraged young people to actively participate in public affairs and policy discussions, while fostering exchanges between youth and different sectors of the community to explore Hong Kong’s future development.

Youngsters perform at the 2026 youthfest@HK kick-off ceremony.

The Club actively supports youth development through a broad range of initiatives. In addition to youthfest@HK, it supports projects such as 21C@JC, which enhances services for young people in the digital age, and JC YUP, which provides personalised support during three key transition stages from education to employment. Last year, the Club also announced a HK$1.4 billion donation to support five youth development initiatives. These include the HYAB JC Scheme for Youth Life Planning, launched in partnership with HYAB, and the enhancement of facilities at Youth Square, including the establishment of the HYAB JC Y Cube, the venue of today’s launch ceremony. The upgraded facilities feature interactive spaces and audio-visual production amenities that enable young people to explore diverse pathways and prepare for the future.

Youngsters perform at the 2026 youthfest@HK kick-off ceremony.

The Club’s support for youthfest@HK, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Group photo.