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 second friendly match of the JC Youth Football Academy Summit took place tonight (August 16) at Mong Kok Stadium, with the Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team taking on the Manchester United Academy U16 team. Both teams demonstrated great determination and skill, treating more than 4,400 fans to an exciting contest. The match went into a penalty shootout after 90 minutes with the score tied at 2-2. Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team won with a final scoreline of 7-6. Local teams won two historic friendly matches in this year’s summit.

The two teams posed for a group photo before the match. Photo source: HKJC

Both teams walked out onto the pitch, each with a young mascot leading the way. Photo source: HKJC

Both teams demonstrated great determination and skill, treating more than 4,400 fans to an exciting contest. Photo source: HKJC

Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team won with a final scoreline of 7-6. Photo source: HKJC

Manchester United legend Antonio Valencia presented the Player of the Team Award to Zachary Yu from the Hong Kong, China U16 Representative Team; and Benjamin from the Manchester United Academy U16 team.

Manchester United legend Antonio Valencia, Photo source: HKJC

Guests in attendance at the match included Belinda Wong, Deputy Director Home Affairs of the HKSAR Government; Joanne Chu, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Casper Stylsvig, Freely Cheng, Head of External Affairs of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Cora Ho, Executive Manager, Charities (Sports) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; David Vincent, Manchester United Partnership Director; Jennifer Yeung, 4th Vice-Chairman cum Chairman of Community Services Committee of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; and Stephen Yau, Chairman, Board of Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre of The Football Association of Hong Kong, China.

Fans attending the match also had the opportunity to meet Manchester United legend and former captain Antonio Valencia; and enjoy a range of activities at booths hosted by Manchester United and the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team in the stadium.

The HKJC volunteer posed for a photo with a child at the balloon‑twisting booth. Photo source: HKJC

Children tried body painting at the booth. Photo source: HKJC

The summit is a collaboration between The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Manchester United and The Football Association of Hong Kong, China. It is supported with funding from the Club’s Charities Trust, with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals operating the programme. During their visit to Hong Kong, the Manchester United Academy U16 team members joined young local players in a series of football and cultural exchange activities, including a visit to the Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School as well as a dragon boat experience, training sessions and community service.

The mascots of both teams posed for photos with families of fans at the stadium. Photo source: HKJC