Jockey Club’s third Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum sets stage for global leaders to discuss fairer societies

30/08/2023 14:40

For the first time in five years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charites Trust is pleased to once again convene the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, which will be held on 11 and 12 September at the West Kowloon Cultural District. With the overarching theme “Philanthropy for Fairer Societies”, this year’s forum will bring together close to 70 prominent speakers and 1,600 delegates from around the world.

The forum’s world-renowned distinguished speakers include:
- Professor Abhijit Banerjee, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Economics and Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
- Christiana Figueres, Co-host of “Outrage + Optimism” and Former United Nations Climate Chief;
- Abhisit Vejjajiva, Former Prime Minister of Thailand;
- Professor Justin Yifu Lin, Dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University and Former Chief Economist of The World Bank;
- Amitav Ghosh, award-winning author, Jnanpith Award, Dan David Prize;
- Ke Huy Quan, Academy Award-winner and more

Notable global foundations participating in this year’s Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum include: the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Nippon Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the Temasek Foundation and the Tencent Charity Foundation, etc.

The forum is being held at a time when disparities are widening worldwide. Far too many across the world lack sufficient access to healthcare, housing, education and gainful employment. Drawing on case studies drawn globally, the forum will explore ways to achieve fairer outcomes for all, in particular through leveraging philanthropy’s proven ability to catalyse change. Themes include the education divide, health justice, ageing societies, East and West welfare models, and the role of technology in philanthropy. The changing nature of 21st-century philanthropy in Asia and beyond will also be explored in depth by the assembled global experts.

Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2023 is a by-invitation event. For full details of the forum agenda and speakers, please visit: https://www.citiesphilanthropy.com/en/agenda-list.

The Club’s support for this international philanthropy forum, like all of its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax and charity support for the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2021/22, the Club returned a total of HK$33.6 billion to the community. This included HK$27.0 billion to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$6.6 billion in approved charity donations. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.