Echoing its commitment to a greener city, The Hong Kong Jockey Club organised a Green Carnival at Happy Valley Racecourse today (15 December). The carnival served as a gala event to Green Action 2011, a staff engagement programme covering a wide range of activities aimed at enhancing employees' awareness of green living and sustainable growth.
The Club has been one of Hong Kong's longest-standing supporters and adopters of green policies. It has put in place a comprehensive Environmental Policy that engages its 27,000 employees in energy-saving and carbon-reduction projects such as green procurement, waste recycling and green mobility. With the staff's combined efforts, the Club achieved a 5.2% reduction in the Club's carbon emissions in 2010/11.
This is the second annual Green Action programme the Club has organised for its staff. This year's two main themes were "Green Mobility" and "Recycling", the former highlighted by a new Staff e-Drive initiative whereby Club employees could test drive an electric car with their families and friends. Today was also designated a “CAR-less Day” on which Club staff were encouraged to adopt a more environment-friendly mode of transport.
Bearing witness to the Club’s latest contributions to environmental protection at the HKJC Green Carnival today were Chairman of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Environmental Affairs The Hon Chan Hak-kan and representatives of major green organisations.
Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges told guests that the Club was committed to improving the quality of life of Hong Kong people. “Sustainability issues affect every one of us in Hong Kong, and we at the Jockey Club try to lead by example. Our sustainability vision is a reflection of values that have guided the Club throughout its history,” he remarked.
“We know that sustainability is about making behavioural changes in everyday life. We have developed our sustainability vision for the Club where we pledge to embed sustainability in our culture and major processes, enhance public awareness of sustainability, and be the catalyst driving Hong Kong towards a sustainable future.”
Legislator Chan Hak-kan commented that not only local residents should make green efforts, but Hong Kong's corporate citizens should also go the extra mile in protecting the environment. He praised the Club for making significant contributions to the city’s sustainable growth over the years. “The Club has set a good example for all large corporations not only by adopting a comprehensive Environmental Policy to set the scene for its sustainable development, but also by establishing a Environmental Management Committee dedicated to devising and co-ordinating green initiatives in an effective manner,” Chan observed.
“On the community front, the Club has over the years helped promote green messages through various channels. They include supporting NGOs in launching a recycling programme and organising green guided tours. The establishment of Hong Kong’s first air pollution index to equip the public with the latest information on air quality epitomises the Club’s staunch support for the sustainability drive.”
All of the Club’s diesel vehicles are now Euro IV certified while those purchased since September this year meet Euro V standards. Meanwhile, biodiesel is used for the Club’s water trucks, tractors, machinery and standby generators at both Sha Tin and Happy Valley Racecourses. Since August 2010, the Club has been making good use of one of the first electric cars to be certified for use on Hong Kong roads.
In addition, the entire fleet of 200 golf carts at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course now run on solar power, while four solar-hybrid catamarans have been purchased to operate the ferry service between the golf course and Sai Kung. These two initiatives are demonstration projects designed to foster community awareness of green solutions, as part of a citywide Environment Project launched by the Club in 2008 with HK$350 million funding from its Charities Trust.
As regards recycling, the HKJC Green Action programme's recycling projects this year have met an enthusiastic response from Club staff, with a total of nearly 1,300 winter clothes, blankets, toys and stationery items collected. With the help of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, the winter garments brought warmth to elderly people living in remote Ta Kwu Ling, while the educational items will become Christmas presents to warm the hearts of some 140 children.
As another part of this year's programme, 45 CARE members and their families joined the International Coastal Clean-up project in November. In three hours, they filled 13 bags of rubbish weighing a total of 325 kg. There have also been various green-themed competitions, such as a recycling box design contest and a green relay race. The Club hopes that initiatives like these will only help bring synergy to the organisation's green efforts, but also encourage the staff to promote sustainability concepts among their families and friends and beyond.
The Hong Kong Jockey 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.
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The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says the Club's sustainability vision is a reflection of values that have guided the organisation throughout its history.
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Chairman of the Legislative Councila£į?s Panel on Environmental Affairs The Hon Chan Hak-kan commends the Club for making significant contributions to the citya£į?s sustainable growth over the years.
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Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (centre) joins The Hon Chan Hak-kan (fourth from left) and Club senior management at the opening of the Green Carnival. They include Club Executive Director, Racing William Nader (fourth from right); Executive Director, Finance Angus Lee (third from right); Executive Director, Membership Services Billy Chen (second from left); Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Kim Mak (third from left); Executive Director, Information Technology Sunny Lee (second from right); Executive Director, Customer and Marketing Richard Cheung (first from left) and Director, Human Resources and Sustainability Mimi Cunningham (first from right).
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Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (6th from the right, 1st row) and senior management, legislator The Hon Chan Hak-kan (4th from the right, 1st row) and other guests of honour get the Green Carnival off to a festive start with Christmas carols.
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On display at today's Green Carnival were a number of environment-friendly vehicles, in line with the event theme of Green Mobility. Club Executive Director, Corporate Affairs Kim Mak shows legislator The Hon Chan Hak-kan the merits of the first electric car introduced by the Club last year.
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Photos 6 & 7: Through the organisation of a low-carbon relay race featuring batons made of recycled materials, the Club hopes to spread the green message and encourage more employees to make creative use of recycled items.
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