Jockey Club extends cross-boundary family services

01/24/2015

In the face of a 28 % increase in cross-boundary students last year to 20,000, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated a further HK$11.8 million to the International Social Service Hong Kong (ISS-HK) to enhance its cross-boundary support service, including setting up a new centre in nearby Nanshan, Shenzhen, so as to help more cross-boundary families integrate into Hong Kong society and foster social harmony.

Today (24 January) Club Steward Dr Rita Fan Hsu Lai Tai joined Deputy Director of Shenzhen District People’s Government Dai Beifang, Director-General of Department of Social Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Li Yunfu, Director of Shenzhen Luohu District Women’s federation Anna Luo, Chief Executive of ISS-HK Stephen Yau and other guests to launch the support service programme for cross-boundary families in Shenzhen.

Dr Fan said the Club was committed to promoting social inclusion in the community, and since 1965 had already been supporting ISS-HK to implement a number of services. “Family is the foundation of every society,” she said. “Ultimately, it is good family relationships that build a harmonious society, and a happy family is also a crucial element to one’s physical and spiritual health development. We do hope that these support services can help create a harmonious family life for the families in the Mainland and Hong Kong, and enhance the social integration between the two places.”

The Club provided a three-year grant for ISS-HK to launch the cross-boundary support service programme in 2011. Apart from serving cross-boundary families, the programme is aimed at assisting new arrivals who have migrated to Hong Kong within three years. A recent project evaluation report showed that over 85% of the parents attending the language training had significant improvement in their mastery of English, while the English tutorials for the students had also proved effective in boosting skills in writing and reading among cross-boundary school children, and generally helped the students adapt to classroom teaching in Hong Kong.

In view of the good response and results of the programme, the Trust’s new three-year funding for the programme will cover additional support for  secondary students, a new self-service library and teacher training, as well as continuous provision of learning support and moral training for the students, parent education workshops and more.

In order to benefit the families residing near Shenzhen Bay boundary control point, a new centre has been set up in the nearby Nanshan area. At the same time, ISS-HK will enhance co-operation with local schools, so as to strengthen their understanding of cross-boundary students and parents. It is expected that the programme will benefit 2,800 cross-boundary students and 4,000 cross-boundary families.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club 
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. Please visit 130.hkjc.com.