HKJC donates over HK$18m to support Qinghai earthquake relief work

2 May 2010

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has donated a further HK$16,305,606 to aid victims of last month's Qinghai earthquake, following its pledge to contribute the net operating surplus from its race meeting on 21 April as well as launch a public fund-raising drive at its premises.  Together with the emergency donation of HK$2 million made earlier, the Club has now contributed over HK$18.3 million to support relief work for the Qinghai earthquake victims.

Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan paid his warm thanks to the public for their support, saying it would help bring new hope to the earthquake victims and relief workers in Qinghai.

The Happy Valley race meeting held on Wednesday 21 April attracted a turnover of HK$818 million.  After payment of dividends to customers and HK$94 million in betting duties to the Government, the Club was able to retain about HK$36 million of this.  Having deducted direct operating costs and made provision for other tax, the Club achieved a net operating surplus of HK$15.36 million, all of which it has passed  to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the Qinghai relief work.

"Horse racing in Hong Kong not only is a form of entertainment, but is also a charitable undertaking which serves the people of Hong Kong and has a far-reaching significance to the community," Dr Chan observed.  "We felt that by going ahead with our race meeting on 21 April and donating the net operating surplus to help Qinghai earthquake victims, we would be able to give strong support to the relief efforts at the same time as maintaining a stable contribution to the public purse."

In addition, the Club launched a public fund-raising drive between 21 and 25 April for which collection boxes were set up at Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses as well as the Club's 105 Off-Course Betting Branches, headquarters building and four clubhouses, including Beijing Clubhouse.  This likewise attracted a huge response, raising a total of HK$943,284.

Dr Chan expressed his gratitude to racing fans and other members of the public, Club Members and staff for their generosity, which had made the fund-raising drive so successful.  He said he hoped that the Qinghai earthquake victims could overcome their hard times soon and be able to rebuild their homeland with blessings and support from all over the country.

Following the Qinghai earthquake, the Club made an immediate donation of HK$2 million to support relief work in the stricken area, passing the donation to the Red Cross Society of China through the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

The Hong KongJockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.