The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China (EFHKC), in conjunction with The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), announced today (11 September) the team that will represent Hong Kong, China in the equestrian events at the 20th Asian Games. Eleven horse-rider combinations have been selected to compete across all three disciplines — Dressage, Eventing and Jumping — in both team and individual competitions. All riders are from the Club’s Equestrian Team. The team brings together experienced riders and rising stars making their first Asian Games appearance, underscoring the strength of Hong Kong’s equestrian talent pipeline and the sport’s enduring tradition of passing expertise from one generation to the next.
Equestrian, Photo source: HKJC
Among this year's selection, two experienced riders - Patrick Lam and Annie Ho - have been selected to compete in two disciplines each. Lam will contest both Eventing and Jumping, while Ho will compete in Eventing and Dressage. The three riders making their Asian Games debuts are: Sheikara Lalive d’Epinay in Jumping, and Yuddy Cheng and Kendra Li in Dressage, bringing a welcome infusion of fresh talent into a squad built on experience. All athletes train under the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan (HKEPP), a joint initiative of the EFHKC and the Club, and are presently based in Europe, where they continue to prepare alongside their equine partners in the final weeks before departure.
Corinne Bracken, Performance Manager at The Hong Kong Jockey Club, has been appointed Chef d'Equipe for the Games, leading a support team drawn from the Club that includes coaches, grooms, veterinarians, farriers and both equine and human physiotherapists, ensuring that both horses and riders are attended to with the highest standard of care throughout the competition.
Photo source: HKJC
Lester Huang, President of the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, said: "That we are able to compete across all three disciplines in both team and individual events reflects years of dedicated work by the Federation — underpinned throughout by the unwavering support of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and the Jockey Club. We have been nurturing talent and strengthening the structures that support this development, which is also a testament to the quiet dedication of every athlete and horse. This team brings together an experienced core with fresh talent now stepping onto the Asian stage for the first time, and together, they represent not only individual effort, but the very spirit of continuity and renewal that defines equestrian sport in Hong Kong. I would also like to highlight that both Annie Ho and Patrick Lam will compete across two disciplines this year, a reflection of their all-round ability and determination. I am equally delighted that six of our own experienced officials have been appointed as stewards at these Games, a fitting recognition of the calibre of officiating talent Hong Kong has cultivated, and one that speaks to its standing on the international stage — an achievement of which we are equally proud. On behalf of the Federation, I thank the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and the Club for their continued support, and I wish every combination the very best as they compete with distinction, enjoy the Games, and bring pride to Hong Kong."
The Hon Martin Liao, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “I congratulate all our riders on their selection and on the honour of representing Hong Kong, China. I hope they can perform to the best of their ability. As a world-class horse sports organisation, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has long supported equestrian sport. We nurture riders at the grass-roots level through our public riding schools and at the elite level through our support for the Hong Kong, China equestrian team in partnership with the EFHKC.” He added that the Club supports sports development at both the elite and community levels, encouraging people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to lead active and healthy lifestyles. At the elite level, beyond its support for the equestrian team members, the Club supports the Jockey Club Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, through which it provides cash incentives to Hong Kong, China athletes to inspire excellence at major events.
The equestrian team of Hong Kong, China attending the Asian Games, Photo source: HKJC
The equestrian competitions will be staged at the JRA Equestrian Park, Tokyo, and feature entries from 22 countries and regions – more than the previous edition in Hangzhou.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club concluded the landmark 10th anniversary and fifth edition of its PBC forum at West Kowloon Cultural District today (8 September). Convened over two days by the Club’s Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), PBC 2026 featured more than 80 eminent speakers and over 2,000 delegates from around the world. Under the central theme of “Leaping for Impact”, the forum brought together leaders from the philanthropic, sports, business, government, academic and social sectors.
Thematic discussions over the two days addressed pressing social issues including health, the well-being of older adults, urban poverty alleviation, heritage conservation, youth positive trajectory development, climate resilience and inclusive employment. Interactive Impact Studios, Co-Learning Workshops and other extended programmes further bridged visionary ideas with practical implementation, examining how meaningful social impact can be achieved on the ground.
To mark the forum’s conclusion and celebrate a decade of global dialogue, a PBC 2026 Gala Dinner was held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. It brought together delegates from the Chinese Mainland and across the world including foundation leaders, government officials, tertiary institution representatives and community leaders. Among the distinguished attendees were Dr the Hon Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR; The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR; Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao; Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang; Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; and other members of the Club’s Board of Management.
Dr the Hon Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR (front row, 5th left); The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members, Executive Council of the HKSAR (front row, 4th right); Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao (front row, 5th right); Club Deputy Chairman and IoP Chairman Lester Huang (front row, 3rd right); Club Stewards; Club CEO and IoP Director Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (front row, 4th left); and other members of the Club’s Board of Management pose for a photo at the PBC 2026 Gala Dinner.
Dr the Hon Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, said at the Gala Dinner that, over the past decade, the PBC forum had not only borne witness to the development of philanthropy, but had also promoted exchange and collaboration among the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and the international community. Looking ahead to the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan, she noted that philanthropic models that take a long-term perspective and place greater emphasis on capacity building and talent development would become increasingly important.
Dr the Hon Starry Lee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and President of the Legislative Council of the HKSAR, delivers a speech at the PBC 2026 Gala Dinner.
The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council of the HKSAR, said: “Meaningful achievement is built through clarity of purpose, discipline, resilience, honest self-assessment, and an unyielding determination to improve. Those same qualities are becoming increasingly essential in philanthropy, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club is especially well placed to lead this conversation because it sits at the unique intersection of sport, public purpose and philanthropy at scale.”
The Hon Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Non-official Members, Executive Council of the HKSAR, delivers a speech at the PBC 2026 Gala Dinner.
Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao expressed his profound gratitude to all speakers, panellists, moderators and participants of PBC 2026 for bringing their remarkable range of experience and perspectives to the forum. He praised the progress that PBC has made over the past decade in addressing prevailing social challenges and inspiring cross-sector and cross-regional partnerships, to its position today as one of the largest assemblies of the global philanthropic community worldwide.
Speaking at the Gala Dinner, Club Chairman The Hon Martin Liao expressed his profound gratitude to all speakers, panellists, moderators and participants for bringing a remarkable range of experience and perspectives to PBC 2026.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club’s CEO and IoP Director, delivered the forum’s closing remarks, echoing insights from forum speakers and reflecting on the sector’s evolving journey. “If there is one lesson that has emerged consistently over the past two days, it is that meaningful impact does not happen by accident. It requires vision, discipline and commitment. But above all, it requires collaboration.” He added: “No organisation, foundation, government or business can address today’s challenges alone. Partnerships are key, but equally important is finding the right partners: those who bring complementary strengths, share our purpose are committed to achieving meaningful outcomes together.”
Club Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Institute of Philanthropy, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, delivers closing remarks at PBC 2026.
Earlier today, the opening keynote address was delivered by Hari Menon, President of Global Growth & Opportunity at the Gates Foundation. Entitled “The New Growth Agenda: Philanthropy’s Role in Expanding Opportunity for All”, it examined the catalytic role of philanthropy in enabling more people to contribute to and benefit from economic growth.
Hari Menon, President of Global Growth & Opportunity at the Gates Foundation, delivers the forum’s opening keynote address on day two in a session entitled “The New Growth Agenda: Philanthropy’s Role in Expanding Opportunity for All”.
As part of the Club’s ongoing efforts to promote education and development equity, and following the adoption and adaptation of the CoolThink@JC curriculum in Cambodian primary schools earlier this year, an MOU on early childhood education and development was signed today. Witnessed by Club Steward Jackson Woo, the MOU was signed by Dr Gabriel Leung, Club Executive Director, Charities and Community, and H.E. Dr Kim Sethany, Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening development foundations and better life trajectories for children.
The Impact Studio session, “Bridging the Gap: Advancing Educational Equity Through Computational Thinking”, explored strategies to achieve sustainable and impactful digital education. Speakers included Kim Sethany, Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia (2nd right); Huang Ronghuai, Co-Dean of the Smart Learning Institute at Beijing Normal University and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Education (2nd left); and Stephen Cheung, President of Saint Francis University and Voting Member of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st left). The panel was moderated by Kerry Lee, President and Chair Professor of Child Development at Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education (1st right).
The forum’s closing plenary featured an intergenerational dialogue between a sports leader- turned-philanthropist and aspiring young athletes who want to drive change. Moderated by Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the Yao Foundation, the session examined how athletes can broaden their impact and how personal growth can translate into leadership and community building. The speakers were Yvette Kong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arelyx and Olympic swimmer; Jacqueline Lai, Hong Kong, China equestrian team rider and Asian Games medallist; and Cado Lee, two-time Asian Games gold medallist and a Hong Kong, China Rugby Sevens player.
Witnessed by Club Steward Jackson Woo (left), an MOU on early childhood education and development was signed today by Dr Gabriel Leung, Club Executive Director, Charities and Community (right), and H.E. Dr Kim Sethany, Permanent Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (centre), reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening development foundations and better life trajectories for children.
In line with this year’s theme, The Bridgespan Group unveiled a new report examining what distinguishes family giving in Asia and how the world’s wealthiest families approach philanthropy. Supported by IoP, The Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation, the research explores the relationship between family, business and philanthropy across the region. Separately, Bridgespan’s latest corporate giving research found that The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust remain the leading corporate donor in Asia andthe eighth largest globally, with an annual average of approved donations of US$774 million from 2020 to 2024.
The Impact Studio session, “Evolving Philanthropy Landscape in China: Corporate, Family, and Cross Border Giving in Practice”, explored how cross-border platforms intersect with the charity policy environment in the Greater Bay Area to enable collaboration at greater scale. Speakers included Wang Zhenyao, Founding Dean of the China Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University (2nd right); Wang Ming, Professor, School of Public Policy and Management and Founding Dean of the Institute for Philanthropy at Tsinghua University (2nd left); and Jin Jinping, Associate Professor at Peking University Law School (1st left). The panel was moderated by Wang Xiangwei, former editor-in-chief, South China Morning Post, and senior visiting scholar at Harvard Kennedy School (1st right).
Initiated in 2016, PBC has served as a flagship platform for global philanthropic thought leadership and cross-sector collaboration, engaging some 10,000 participants and more than 380 speakers from over 40 countries and regions throughout the past decade.
The forum’s closing plenary featured an intergenerational dialogue between a sport leader- turned-philanthropist and aspiring young athletes who want to drive change. The speakers were Yvette Kong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arelyx and Olympic swimmer (1st left); Jacqueline Lai, Hong Kong, China equestrian team rider and Asian Games medallist (2nd left); and Cado Lee, two-time Asian Games gold medallist and a Hong Kong, China Rugby Sevens player (2nd right). The panel was moderated by Yao Ming, Founder and Chairman of the Yao Foundation (1st right).
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.
