Jockey Club funds redevelopment of Caritas Social Centre

07/05/2014

The 50-year-old Caritas Social Centre in Tsuen Wan is to be redeveloped into a ten-storey building funded by a donation of more than HK$142 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Upon completion, the new building will offer a wide range of services in the district to meet the changing needs of the community.

Today (5 July), Club Steward Anthony W K Chow joined Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Subventions) Kok Che-leung, Caritas-Hong Kong Chief Executive Michael Yeung, and other guests to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the Caritas Social Centre (Tsuen Wan) redevelopment project.

Mr Chow said that the Club had been supporting Caritas-Hong Kong for more than half a century and was glad to support the redevelopment of the four-storey centre into a ten-storey integrated service building. He said this would provide more timely services to people from all walks of life and was expected to benefit over 217,000 individuals, families, deprived groups, people with disabilities and elderly residents each year.

The original Social Centre has been providing social work, educational and hospitality services for the Tsuen Wan community since 1962. Upon redevelopment, the new building with some 4,600 square metres of useable space will be able to provide more community services, including community development services, trauma treatment, support services for the disabled, personal and centre-based care services for the elderly, and mental health and wellness programmes.

The co-location of various service units under one roof, with green design and energy-saving features, will make the best possible use of land and welfare resources. It is expected that the redevelopment project will enable the Social Centre to become a service hub in the district.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a long-standing supporter of social welfare services. Over the past decade alone, more than HK$1.1 billion has been donated towards major projects such as the redevelopment of the St James’ Settlement Jockey Club Social Services Building in Wan Chai and TWGHs Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex in Aberdeen; the renovation of Christian Family Service Centre Jockey Club Building in Kwun Tong; and the construction of the Hong Kong Red Cross new headquarters building on the West Kowloon reclamation. Other recent funding for Caritas-Hong Kong includes the establishment of the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Day Services Centre for the Elderly in Sha Tin, which provides support to the seniors and their carers so that the elderly can stay at home.

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 Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 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. 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.