Corporate News

Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel provides new home for people with intellectual disabilities

04/20/2017

With an acute shortfall of hostel places and rehabilitation services in Hong Kong, people with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities often need to wait for around 10 years for a hostel place. To help address this challenge, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated HK$600 million to the Hong Chi Association for its development project in Pinehill Village.

The first building completed under the development project – the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel – was opened today (20 April) by the Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui; and Hong Chi Association's President Michael T H Lee and Chairman Owen Chan.  Upon completion, Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Village will become the largest rehabilitation service complex in Hong Kong for people with intellectual disabilities.

Mr Cheung noted that the Club had partnered the Hong Chi Association since 1975 and witnessed many changes at Pinehill Village over the past 30 years.  "Initially, there was an orphanage and a day activity school only," he recalled. "The Trust's latest donation to the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Village development project is also its biggest-ever single donation in the rehabilitation sector. Three new buildings are being constructed, accommodating over 1,100 service places for people with intellectual disabilities. The Club places great importance on taking care of the needs of the disadvantaged. We encourage NGOs to adopt innovative thinking and technology to carry out timely and diversified projects that can enhance the quality of life of people in need and promote equal opportunities."

The Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Village development projectwill be completed in phases by end of 2018, providing an additional 834 service places to help alleviate the long waiting list. New facilities include the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel, which provides 100 hostel places and daytime training for people with moderate intellectual disabilities; a special child care centre; an early education training centre; a children's home; a day activity centre and hostel; and an integrated vocational training centre, serving people with intellectual disabilities of all grades and ages.

In addition to this project, the Club actively collaborates with community and non-governmental organisations in pursuit of appropriate rehabilitation support services. Projects include the Jockey Club Hong Chi Lodge which offers intensive on-the-job training programmes in housekeeping and catering services for people with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities; the 'JC A-Connect: Jockey Club Autism Support Network', the first of its kind in the city to provide holistic support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder attending mainstream schools, as well as their parents; and the redevelopment and extension of TWGHs Jockey Club Rehabilitation Complex.

 

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 combating 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.

The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung, says the Trust's donation to the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Village development project is its biggest-ever single donation in the rehabilitation sector.
The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung, says the Trust's donation to the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Village development project is its biggest-ever single donation in the rehabilitation sector.

Photos 2/ 3 : The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (2nd left); Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (2nd right); and Hong Chi Association's President Michael T H Lee (1st right) and Chairman Owen Chan (1st left) officiate at the opening ceremony of the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.
Photos 2/ 3 : The Club's Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (2nd left); Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (2nd right); and Hong Chi Association's President Michael T H Lee (1st right) and Chairman Owen Chan (1st left) officiate at the opening ceremony of the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.


Photos 4/ 5:  Officiating guests tour the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.
Photos 4/ 5: Officiating guests tour the Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.


Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.
Hong Chi Jockey Club Pinehill Hostel.

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