Jockey Club to help preserve four local a£á?intangible cultural heritagea£á? activities

04/22/2012

Over the years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been a staunch supporter of cultural preservation. Today (22 April) Club Steward Michael Lee announced funding of HK$2 million to support four local activities being inscribed onto the third National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China, and a related educational programme to be run by The Conservancy Association Centre for Heritage (CACHe).

He was joined by Director of Leisure & Cultural Services Betty Fung, Joint Association of Traditional Dragon-Boats in Tai O Chairman Fan Sum Kee, Hong Kong Cheung Chau Bun Festival Committee Vice-Chairman Eric Ho, Federation of Hong Kong Chiu Chow Community Organizations Permanent Honorary President Hui Hok Chee, Tai Hang Residents’ Welfare Association Chairman Ho Choi Chiu and CACHe Chairman Stephen Chan at the Announcement Ceremony for the Support of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said, “This time, we are delighted to provide more than HK$2 million to support Hong Kong’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage and related educational programmes. This will allow more people, particularly the young generation to learn and understand more about these unique traditions, so as to raise public awareness to protect these historic events and pass it on.”

The Club’s donations will help cover the expenses of this year’s Tai O Traditional Dragon Boat Water Parade, the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival and Tai Hang Fire Dragon Parade. The Club will also fund a field studies and data collection project for the traditional Yu Lan Ghost Festival in the Chiu Chow Community. In addition, CACHe will organise a “Community Education Project for National Intangible Cultural Heritage in China” for one year to promote awareness and fun facts of these four traditions.

Shortly after the Announcement Ceremony, a Hong Kong National List of Intangible Culture Heritage Seminar was held with Leisure and Cultural Services Department Curator (Intangible Cultural Heritage) Chau Hing Wah, CUHK History MA Programme Director Dr Ma Muk Chi and  HKUST Humanities Associate Professor Liu Tik Sang to explain the history of these four national intangible cultural heritages.

The Conservancy Association set up the Centre for Heritage in 2007 with a donation from the Club’s Charities Trust. Located in the Western Community Centre in Sai Ying Pun, CACHe runs numerous community engagement and education programmes, including the Fire Dragon workshops, that have enabled tens of thousands of students and other participants to appreciate the preservation of cultural heritage in Hong Kong.  For details of CACHe, please refer to www.cache.org.hk

The Club attaches great importance to heritage conservation, including the Central Police Station Revitalisation Project to conserve and revitalise the site and transform it into a centre of heritage, arts and leisure. The Club also provides financial support to many other cultural preservation projects organised by various groups, such as HULU Culture’s Hong Kong Jockey Club “Heritage x Art x Design Walk” Project, Hong Kong Memory Project, The Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation’s The Hong Kong Jockey Club Point-to-Point Site Specific Art Project, and St James’ Settlement’s Heritage Preservation and Rejuvenation Programme in Wan Chai District.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world's leading horse racing organisations but also a world top 15 charitable organisation and Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.6 billion in 2011. It is also a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$15 billion a year for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious, with more than 23,000 members. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.