Award of excellence for Club's green initiatives

05/04/2012

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has been honoured with a Bronze Award in the Public Organisation and Utilities sector of the 2011 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE), which were announced today (4 May).  This latest accolade is a further acknowledgment of the Club's long-standing support for green initiatives and its contributions to sustainable development.

The awards, first made in 2008, are based on a set of well-established assessment criteria and carry wide professional recognition in the environmental sector.  They are organised by the Environmental Campaign Committee in association with the Environmental Protection Department, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, Hong Kong Council for Social Service and five leading trade and business associations.  The aim is to encourage businesses to adopt green management practices and recognise those that contribute to protecting the environment.

During the past year, the assessment team visited various Club facilities and premises including its headquarters building in Happy Valley, its catering facilities at the two racecourses, its off-course betting branches, its clubhouses, the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course and the Tin Shui Wai Telebet cum Volunteers and Training Centre, which is converted from a car park.  Interviews with Club representatives from different departments were also conducted.

In the area of “Green Leadership”, the Club was recognised for its efforts to embed green practices into every part of its business operations, under a comprehensive Environmental Policy introduced in 2009 and an employee-led Environmental Management Committee that devises and co-ordinates green initiatives.  These include green procurement, green cleaning and waste recycling, as well as a sustainable growth framework specially designed for the Club’s property and construction projects.

In the area of “Programme and Performance”, good examples are the collection of stable waste for recycling into organic fertilizer and the use of solar-powered golf carts at Sha Tin Racecourse.  The Club also collected 50 tonnes of waste glass for recycling last year, which not only helped produce 110,000 eco-bricks, but also created job and training opportunities in the recycling industry for the underprivileged.

Other measures taken by the Club to reduce its energy consumption, water usage, waste materials and overall carbon footprint have helped create more environment-friendly surroundings for the staff.  The Club's Green Procurement Guidelines, for example, govern the supply of a variety of office essentials ranging from copy paper to plastic bags and even vehicles.  The Club’s dining outlets have introduced biodegradable food containers and environment-friendly food packaging, and also deployed food waste decomposers.  Meanwhile, its betting operations have introduced 100% recyclable betting slips.  These concerted efforts resulted in a 5.2% reduction in the Club's carbon emissions in 2010/11.

To enhance green awareness among the Club's 27,000-strong workforce and encourage their involvement in the sustainability drive, the Club staged its second Green Action programme last year covering a diverse range of contests and activities. The Club has also transformed the rooftop of its headquarters building into "Our Green Place" – a tranquil garden area that increases the building's energy efficiency and reduces carbon emissions, while providing a pleasant gathering spot for staff.

In addition, the Club also tries to enhance public awareness of sustainability through its community donations.  In 2008, its Charities Trust committed HK$350 million to initiate a multi-year Environment Project that embraces an extensive range of educational and public awareness programmes aimed at promoting Hong Kong’s sustainable growth.  This includes two green demonstration projects at Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, where the Club has converted its entire fleet of golf carts to solar power – the first in the world to do so – and deployed revolutionary solar-hybrid catamarans to ferry customers between the golf course and Sai Kung.  These initiatives serve as another way to promote green awareness among members of the public and actively engage them in cutting carbon emissions.

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.