Jockey Club Supports Programme to Advance Cross-Boundary Social Welfare Collaboration and Innovation

As an increasing number of Hong Kong residents choose to live, work and retire on the Chinese Mainland, the demand for cross-boundary social welfare services continues to grow. Ongoing innovation in social welfare services is therefore necessary for the sector to meet the evolving needs of society. In response, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has approved a donation of nearly HK$70 million to support Connecting Hearts Limited in launching the three-year Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme.

Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (3rd left); Bernard Chan, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (3rd right); Alice Lau, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (2nd left); Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government (2nd right); Peter Douglas Koon, Chairman of the Connecting Hearts Limited (1st left); and Professor Annie Tam, Vice Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts Limited and President of the Connecting Hearts Academy (1st right), officiate at the launch ceremony of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC

The programme is built on two pillars: capacity building and integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It aims to enhance the professional capabilities and leadership capacity of Hong Kong’s social welfare sector, promote cooperation in welfare services across the GBA and develop sustainable, high-quality service models for the region. The Launch Ceremony cum Pilot Class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1) was held today (18 August), with some 400 participants in attendance.

Officiating guests at the launch ceremony included Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Bernard Chan, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Alice Lau, Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Edward To, Director of Social Welfare of the HKSAR Government; Peter Douglas Koon, Chairman of Connecting Hearts Limited; and Professor Annie Tam, Vice Chairperson of the Connecting Hearts Limited and President of the Connecting Hearts Academy.

Club Steward Bernard Chan delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC

As a patriotic organisation with a strong commitment to Hong Kong, the Club has consistently leveraged its unique strengths to serve society’s priorities and contribute to the country’s high-quality development. It also actively responds to the National 15th Five-Year Plan and supports measures that facilitate Hong Kong residents’ development and daily lives in the Chinese Mainland. Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Bernard Chan said that the Club is supporting the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme in response to the growing demand for cross-boundary welfare services among Hong Kong residents in the GBA. He encouraged participants to make full use of this valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of national development and welfare service practices on the Chinese Mainland. This will enable them to contribute to the long-term advancement of the social welfare sector in alignment with overall national development.

Group photo, Photo source: HKJC

Under the capacity building pillar, the programme aims to nurture a new generation of social welfare professionals equipped with expertise, leadership skills and innovative thinking to address emerging challenges arising from demographic changes, technological advancement and a rising demand for cross-regional services. The programme is expected to provide training for 1,780 social welfare professionals. Initiatives include specialised training for middle management staff to gain a deeper understanding of welfare services in the GBA, overseas study visits for industry practitioners to learn about service innovation and data application, and sponsorships for social workers with potential as future sector leaders to pursue master’s degree programmes locally or overseas.

Participants attend the pilot class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC

Under the GBA integration pillar, the programme will promote deeper collaboration between social welfare organisations in Hong Kong and throughout the region. Building on the memoranda of understanding already signed between welfare agencies, the programme is expected to incubate around 100 cross-boundary collaborative concepts in areas including services for older adults, children and families, rehabilitation and mental health, poverty alleviation, development of the welfare sector, volunteering and others. Fifteen initiatives demonstrating strong potential will receive additional funding to be developed into pilot programmes, serving as replicable and sustainable cross-boundary service models that provide more comprehensive and higher-quality welfare services for Hong Kong residents in the region.

Participants attend the pilot class of the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead Capacity Building Programme (Cohort 1). Photo source: HKJC

The Club’s support for the Jockey Club • Connecting Hearts: Moving Ahead programme, 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.

The opening day of PBC 2026 took place at West Kowloon Cultural District today (7 September). Convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the two-day forum brings together some 2,000 delegates and leaders from the worlds of philanthropy, sport, business, government, academia and the social sector to explore the transformation, challenges and opportunities shaping philanthropy today.

Marking the event’s 10th anniversary and as one of the highlights of the Club’s Year of the Horse campaign, PBC 2026 has adopted the theme “Leaping for Impact”. Inspired by the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, and the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, the forum explores what philanthropy can learn from sport in areas such as discipline, focus, resilience and teamwork. It aims to examine how these qualities can be transformed into a powerful force for philanthropy, generating deeper and more enduring social impact. The Trust has long sought to transform lives and strengthen communities through the power of sport. This aligns with the National 15th Five-Year Plan’s emphasis on talent cultivation, youth development and the advancement of a strong and healthy sporting nation.

Officiating at the forum’s opening ceremony was HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki; the Club’s Chairman The Hon Martin Liao; and Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

The Commission on Asian Philanthropy launched its Interim Report during the forum. The Club CEO and IoP Director, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre), together with Commissioners from The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, pose for a group photo.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki said, “The Hong Kong SAR Government is fully committed to raising our city as a global centre for philanthropy. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, and as a bridge between East and West, we are uniquely positioned to deploy global capital for the greater good.” He added, “With our enabling tax regime, dedicated family office strategy, and our unwavering commitment to doing good, we can make a difference for you and your philanthropic legacy. This year’s Forum is the perfect place to start.”

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao said, “Including this year, PBC will have engaged more than 10,000 participants over the past decade and featured more than 380 speakers from over 40 countries and regions – making it one of the world’s largest philanthropic assemblies. PBC 2026 examines the need for systems change, new approaches to capital and the capabilities required to deliver impact. It explores how cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder partnerships can drive sustainable and lasting outcomes. Together, these contributions reflect PBC’s continuing role as a platform for sharing ideas, advancing understanding and connecting leaders around the practical solutions needed to address the challenges of our time.”

Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

He mentioned that the Club and its Charities Trust today officially released the first edition of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Impact Report, detailing the many ways in which the Club has improved lives and strengthened communities since its earliest recorded donation in 1915. The Club has developed a new three-tierhierarchical measurement framework, evaluating impact at project, programme and Trust levels.

Honorary President for Life of the International Olympic Committee Dr Thomas Bach delivers a video address at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.

The report highlights three key insights. First, resources should be more precisely targeted towards the most marginalised and underserved populations to maximise the impact of philanthropy. Second, initiatives should be designed with long-term sustainability in mind, delivering intensive and sustained interventions that empower beneficiaries to achieve lasting positive behavioural change. Third, impact measurement must incorporate flexible, prolonged follow-up periods tailored to the life cycle of each programme, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of long-term outcomes. The report sets out the Trust’s approach to impact measurement and illustrates the social impact generated by the many initiatives it has created or supported.

Leading foundations participating in PBC 2026 include the Gates Foundation, The D.H. Chen Foundation, the Lee Hysan Foundation, the Yao Foundation, the Sanofi Foundation, the Tencent Charity Foundation, The Majurity Trust, the Lien Foundation and the Essl Foundation.

The day’s opening keynote was delivered by Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator, who shared her insights on “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity.” Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan, the keynote explored the leadership qualities needed for philanthropy in today’s world.

Moderated by Club Steward The Hon Bernard Chan (right), former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark (left) delivers the opening keynote entitled “A New Era for Philanthropy: Leading Through Complexity”.

One of the forum’s highlight sessions was “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, which brought together The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government, and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) & Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore. The conversation was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government. The discussion focused on how Hong Kong and Singapore as international cities can convert the benefits of economic growth into opportunities for social mobility, creating more pathways for the next generation.

The fourth plenary, entitled “Two Playbooks, One Goal: Navigating Social Mobility in Asia’s Twin Cities”, was moderated by The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR Government (centre). It featured The Hon Chris Sun, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the HKSAR Government (left), and Tan See Leng, Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy & Industry) and Former Minister for Manpower, Singapore (right).

Another highlight session, “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport,” brought together Olympic gold medallists and leading sports figures from the Chinese Mainland – Li Xiaopeng, Deng Yaping, Yang Yang – and 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning. The speakers shared how sporting excellence can evolve to shape institutions, nurture emerging talent and widen access to opportunities.

The fifth plenary, entitled “Expanding the Arena: Philanthropy, Leadership, and Pathways Beyond Sport”, featured a discussion between Olympic gold medallists Li Xiaopeng (2nd left), Deng Yaping (1st left) and Yang Yang (2nd right), together with 2026 international football tournament referee Ma Ning (centre).

The Commission on Asian Philanthropy, co-convened by IoP and the Asian Philanthropy Congress (“APHIC”), today launched its Interim Report, presenting the first comprehensive research on the scale and scope of philanthropic ecosystems across participating Asian jurisdictions. The report estimates that domestic philanthropic giving across participating jurisdictions reached US$109 billion in 2024 and could exceed US$1 trillion over the next decade. It highlights how philanthropy in Asia is shaped by everyday giving, business contributions and public investment, and how philanthropic ecosystems can serve as a strategic asset for national development.

The Club’s support for PBC 2026, like all of its charity and community initiatives, is made possible by its unique value creation model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.

HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Chan Kwok-ki (front row centre); Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 5th left); Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang (front row, 4th left); Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 5th right); and Club management pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of PBC 2026.