Organised by Walk21 and Civic Exchange, the Walk21 Hong Kong Conference is sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and being held for the first time in Asia from 3-7 October. The five-day conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is aimed at promoting walking as a means of shaping a low carbon city, as well as making Hong Kong a “pedestrian first” environment. One of the main elements of the conference will be the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Forum: Walking Towards a Low-Carbon Hong Kong on 6 October.
Today (3 October), the Club’s Deputy Chairman Anthony Chow joined Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam, Founder and Director of Walk21 Jim Walker and Co-Chair of Civic Exchange Lisa Genasci at the opening ceremony.
“We are very pleased to support Walk21 and in particular the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Forum this Thursday,” Mr Chow said. “Walk21 Hong Kong highlights a significant way in which we can improve the lives of our fellow citizens. Through the Forum, which will carry the theme of ‘Walking towards a low-carbon Hong Kong’, we hope to encourage many more people to support a walkable and low-carbon Hong Kong.”
The Trust has made a donation of over HK$4 million to organise the conference, which is expected to attract an encouraging attendance of over 500 delegates from around the world. From presentations and discussions by experts on the experience of other cities worldwide, participants will learn more about how a ‘pedestrian-first’ environment promotes economic growth and health.
During the Hong Kong Jockey Club Public Forum, which is a free event (by prior registration), experts will discuss the goal of improving urban walkability, transport planning in the Asian context and green city planning. For details, please visit http://www.walk21hk.com/programme.html?programme_id=12.
The Club has long been a committed proponent of environmental protection, seeking to embed sustainability into all of its major processes and operations, as well as supporting external initiatives, such as The Jockey Club Initiative Gaia. Funded by a HK$70 million Charities Trust donation to the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The Jockey Club Initiative Gaia is a five-year community engagement programme that includes the establishment of the Museum of Climate Change, the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Located at CUHK, the Museum features the ‘Three Poles’ collection of renowned Hong Kong explorer Dr Rebecca Lee, information on the Trust’s contributions to environmental protection and details of research initiated by the university. The Trust has also funded the redevelopment of the internationally renowned Mai Po Nature Reserve, enhancing one of Hong Kong’s most valuable ecological assets as well as improving its “walkability”.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to community betterment. Through its integrated business model of world-class racing, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution, the Club generates substantial economic and social value and assists the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2015/16 the Club donated a record HK$3.9 billion to charity and paid a record HK$20.9 billion in tax. It is Hong Kong’s largest single tax payer and one of the world’s largest charity donors. 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.
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The Cluba£į?s Deputy Chairman Anthony Chow says that by sponsoring the Forum with the theme of a£į?Walking towards a low-carbon Hong Konga£į?, the Club hopes to encourage many more people to support a walkable and low-carbon Hong Kong.
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The Cluba£į?s Deputy Chairman Anthony Chow (3rd left) joins Chief Secretary for Administration Carrie Lam (3rd right), Founder and Director of Walk21 Jim Walker (1st left), Chairman of MTR Corporation Professor Frederick Ma (2nd right), Co-Chair of Civic Exchange Lisa Genasci (1st right) and CEO Maura Wong of Civic Exchange (2nd left) at the opening ceremony of the Walk21 Hong Kong Conference.
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