Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare and former Premier of Victoria highlight horseracing’s positive contribution to the community

The Honourable Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, today (6 May) emphasised the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s instrumental role in “augmenting, supplementing and complementing the government’s efforts in building a more caring compassionate and cohesive society.” Mr Cheung was addressing delegates from around the world during the 35th Asian Racing Conference in Hong Kong.

At the plenary session examining ‘The Community Impact’ of horseracing, Mr Cheung delivered a presentation entitled ‘The Role of the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Building a Caring Society’. While highlighting the rapid social changes that are occurring in Hong Kong, particularly the demographic concerns attendant to an aging population, Mr Cheung drew attention to HKJC’s close collaboration with the government and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector in working to devise long-term solutions to evolving welfare demands.

With government expenditure on social welfare set to reach HK$57 billion in 2014/15, representing 18.5% of the Hong Kong government’s total recurrent expenditure, Mr Cheung applauded the Jockey Club Charities Trust, which has donated an average of more than HK$1.3 billion to the community every year over the past decade by way of its own initiatives and donations, supporting the projects of over 100 charitable groups and organisations each year, encompassing initiatives on community services, education and training, health, culture and sports.  "It is no exaggerating to say that the logo of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is omnipresent in Hong Kong," Mr Cheung remarked.