The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

Founded in 1884 to organise all racing activities in Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit organisation, donating its surplus to charity and community projects. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust serves as the vehicle through which the Club’s charitable donations are administered and distributed. The Trustees are the 12 Stewards of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

In the financial year 2011/12, the Charities Trust donated HK$1.73 billion to support some 155 charitable and community projects that will touch the lives of about 5.4 million Hong Kong people.

The Charities Trust works in partnership with Government, charity groups and non-governmental organisations to improve the quality of life of Hong Kong people in six main areas, namely: Promoting A Healthy Living; Lending A Hand & Volunteering; Creating Possibilities; Developing Sports, Fun & Games; Cultivating Arts & Culture; and Preserving & Creating Jobs.

With regard to the Club’s commitment to local arts and culture development and heritage conservation, projects supported over the years include arts performances and exhibitions, restorations and revitalisation of historic buildings such as The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe), the Central Police Station, and the conversion of a vacated factory building in Shek Kip Mei into the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre.

Apart from historic buildings, the Club believes that aspects of intangible heritage such as traditional craftsmanship, rituals and festive events should also be preserved as indispensable components of a city’s legacy. Towards this end, the Trust is providing funding of HK$2 million to support four local activities inscribed onto the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China in 2011. The donation also funds CACHe to organise a related educational programme for the public.

The Trust’s support for the “HKJC H.A.D. Walk” provides an excellent platform for the public to gain a new experience of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts. Through a series of exhibitions, design workshops, cultural tours, creative bazaars, community performances and education programmes, it aims to enhance the younger generation’s understanding and appreciation of our unique local culture.