Racing will continue bringing countless benefits to Hong Kong, Jockey Club pledges as city celebrates 15th Anniversary of HKSAR

07/01/2012

The Hong Kong Jockey Club staged its annual Hong Kong Reunification Raceday at Sha Tin Racecourse today (1 July), celebrating the 15th birthday of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with tens of thousands of local residents and overseas visitors.  Three action-packed feature races and a wide range of on-course entertainment, including performances by authentic cultural troupes, bore out the famous pre-unification pledge that “ma zhao pao” – the racing would continue.

Over the past decade-and-a-half, Hong Kong horse racing has gone from strength to strength, not only helping the city maintain its unique lifestyle, of which the sport has long been an integral part, but also enabling it to establish a strong foothold in the world racing arena.  At the same time, the Club has provided staunch support to the nation's staging of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games by creating the equestrian event venues, testifying to the success of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ formula.

Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson told guests at today's meeting that racing not only remained Hong Kong people’s most popular spectator sport 15 years since reunification, but had also brought prestige and honour to the city internationally.  These achievements, he said, were thanks to the Club’s unique not-for-profit business model which enabled it to channel Hong Kong people’s gaming demand into community benefits.  “In the past 15 years, the Club has contributed a remarkable HK$191 billion to the public purse in betting duties and taxes, and made direct donations to charitable and community projects totalling a further HK$17 billion,” he observed.

Another very important role of the Club, Mr Stevenson noted, was providing a regulated and responsible channel to meet the public demand for betting, and thereby deterring citizens from patronising illegal bookmakers, who were widely associated with social problems like credit betting, underage gambling and loansharking.  If the Club was to continue meeting local demand in a regulated and responsible way, he explained, it must be allowed fair room and flexibility to compete.

“I believe that the Club's not-for-profit business model is something we should all cherish, as it is the key to ensuring the long-term stability of Government revenues and continued donations to countless worthy causes,” Mr Stevenson told the guests.

The Club long-standing role as a force for good in society has grown wider as well as stronger in recent years, with its donations extended to compatriots on the Mainland.  In 2008, it made emergency donations of HK$30 million to provide timely relief to victims of the devastating Sichuan earthquake, and later pledged a further HK$1 billion towards the reconstruction in the quake-stricken areas.  In total since the 1990s, the Club has donated more than HK$1.2 billion to help victims of natural disasters on the Chinese Mainland.

In addition, the Club created world-class venues for the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympics staged in Hong Kong, as well as for the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games which saw the first international-level equestrian competition staged on Chinese soil. “We believe the continued success of horse racing is a very good example of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in action,” Mr Stevenson observed, “and we hope that it can continue to benefit the development of both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland for many more years to come”.

Celebrating the special occasion with tens of thousands of racing fans at Sha Tin Racecourse today were over 200 guests from the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, the HKSAR Government, the city’s 18 District Councils and community groups.

Highlights of the Hong Kong Reunification Raceday were three feature races: the Hong Kong Reunification Cup; The 18 Districts Cup, organised for the fifth year by the Club to salute the achievements of District Councils and community organisations; and the CMA Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo Cup.

Deputy Director of the Liaison Office Li Guikang, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hong Xiaoyong; and Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Raymond Young presented trophies to winners of the feature races.

Some 28,000 racegoers were treated to myriad on-course activities at today’s racing carnival, a highlight being traditional performances of the colourful Tai Po Fishermen's Wedding Dance, Sai Kung Hakka Rural Songs and the Yuen Long Kylin and Lion Dance.  Meanwhile the playing of the National Anthem on the turf track by the Hong Kong Police Silver Band added fitting pomp and ceremony to the occasion.

With their door gift of a “Happy Hong Kong Reunification” fan in hand, many of the racing fans flocked to the game booths at the racecourse to immerse themselves fully in the festivities by having their faces painted or wearing special tattoo stickers with reunification-related designs.

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.