A massive earthquake, measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale, struck Sichuan on 12 May 2008. The Hong Kong Jockey Club made an emergency donation of HK$30 million to support immediate relief work. It later pledged HK$1 billion towards suitable post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Sichuan.

On 7 November 2008, the Club and the Sichuan Provincial Government signed a memorandum of understanding on four initial projects to help reconstruct schools and hospital facilities in areas heavily affected by the earthquake. These projects are aimed at helping people of different backgrounds and ages so as to bring maximum benefit to victims of the disaster.

The Club signed reconstruction agreements on three further new projects on 20 August 2010. The new projects focus on helping to re-establish vocational training, enhancing critically-needed rehabilitation facilities and expertise, and strengthening disaster management and reconstruction in the longer term.

Mianyang Youxian Zhongxing HKJC Junior Middle School
  • The original school buildings collapsed in the earthquake.

  • This reconstruction project, at a cost of RMB37 million, has already been completed, including a new academic building, dormitories and canteen.

  • The rebuilt school has been taking in students since the start of academic year 2010/11. Some 1,600 Secondary 1 to 3 students will benefit from the project.
Mianyang 3rd City Hospital HKJC Medical Complex
  • With 1,000 beds, the hospital serves 17,000 inpatients and up to 350,000 outpatients a year. It also houses the Sichuan Provincial Psychiatric Centre, which has been providing psychological counselling and emotional rehabilitation for hundreds of thousands of victims and rescuers in the Sichuan earthquake.

  • The reconstruction project is costing RMB80 million, including rebuilding the main wing and purchasing rehabilitation facilities.

  • The project will be completed in late 2011.
Deyang HKJC No.5 Middle School
  • Deyang No. 5 Middle School is a renowned school in Deyang City. The school buildings survived the earthquake, but many students from other earthquake-affected areas were subsequently relocated to Deyang. The facilities are no longer adequate for the increased numbers.

  • This project, costing RMB149 million, involves expanding the upper secondary section of Deyang No.5 Middle School and combining it with two other schools so as to maximise the intake of the combined school. The school will then be able to accommodate 4,500 students. Rehabilitation facilities will be included.

  • The additional school buildings will be completed in September 2011.
Sichuan HKJC Olympic School
  • In total, 302,298 square metres of sports training schools and facilities were damaged in 39 of the hard-hit counties of Sichuan. In addition, 58 sports personnel and 17 amateur athletes died, while a further 48 sports personnel and 180 amateur athletes were injured. Of the 32,258 registered provincial and county-level amateur athletes in Sichuan, almost half - some 14,000 - live in the hard-hit areas.

  • The Olympic School is being formed by expanding the facilities at Dujiangyan Middle School, a key school in the district. The expansion project will cost RMB135 million. With the support of the State General Administration of Sport, the Dujiangyan Municipal Government and the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, the school is committed to becoming one of the leading schools nationwide, providing a new model for top athletes emphasising both general education and sports training. The school will accommodate an estimated 4,500 students, attracting young elite athletes from across the whole province and, indeed, the entire nation.

  • The project will be completed in August 2011.

Training Institute on Disaster Management and Reconstruction of Sichuan University - Hong Kong Polytechnic University and HKJC Research Centre on Disaster Management
  • With support from the Club, Sichuan University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University is setting up the nation's first-ever Training Institute on Disaster Management and Reconstruction. As well as funding construction of the campus building, laboratory and practicum sites, the Club will provide financial support for the first phase of education programmes.

  • The project will cost RMB200 million. The first of its kind on the Chinese Mainland, the Training Institute is aimed at providing professional training in healthcare, rehabilitation and disaster management, and will serve as the national centre for improving warnings and relief for future natural disasters. It is hoped that it will become a world-class disaster management institute.

  • The first batch of approximately 460 students will be enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in academic year 2011/12. It is expected that 5,000 practising professionals will be trained through short part-time courses during the first three years.
Ya An Vocational College
  • The College provides vocational training for 10,000 students through nationwide recruitment in 20 provinces or municipalities. It has faculties for medicine, fundamental medical science, nursing, pharmaceutical inspection, education, electrical engineering and tourism. More than 55,000 square metres of its buildings and over 600 items of educational equipment were damaged in the earthquake.

  • The Club is contributing RMB90 million towards the cost of rebuilding the College, covering the provision of a new student dormitory, library complex, laboratory and training complex and sports ground at the Qingnian Road Campus.

  • After reconstruction of the College, there will be 10,000 students in professional training. Some of the graduates will take up employment in disaster areas to support reconstruction and development work in the province.

  • The project is expected to be completed in early 2012.
Sichuan Provincial 8-1 Rehabilitation Centre
  • The Sichuan Provincial 8-1 Rehabilitation Centre, proposed by President Hu Jintao, is being funded by the Central Military Commission and run by the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Persons' Federation. Completed in May 2010, it offers 500 beds and provides rehabilitation services to the disabled throughout Sichuan.

  • The Club is contributing RMB53 million to the Centre to help it purchase equipment and provide training, rehabilitation and psychological counselling services. Some 400 core staff in both nursing and managerial positions will be given critical professional training over two years.

 




08.5.12 08.5.13 08.5.14 08.5.21
The Sichuan earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 8.0 on the Richter scale.
 
Immediate emergency donation of HK$30 million to support the relief work.
 
Launched a public fund-raising drive for earthquake victims in Sichuan.
 
Cancelled Happy Valley race meeting to mourn the victims.
 
08.5.25   08.6.4   08.7.11   08.11.7  
Observed a minute of silence for the victims before race meeting.
 
Collected public donation of HK$9.5m to earthquake victims.
 
Pledged to contribute HK$1b in suitable Sichuan reconstruction projects.
 
Committed to four projects, costs RMB401 million.
 
10.8.20              
Committed to an additional three projects, costs RMB343 million.