Club donates over HK$130 million to HKU for human research

14 October 2009

To further the development of human research in Hong Kong to achieve international prominence, The Hong Kong Jockey Club through its Charities Trust has donated HK$133.2 million to The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to support its Phase I development of the Human Research Institute, matching a similar grant from the Hong Kong SAR Government.  Today (14 October), Club Chairman John C C Chan joined Vice-Chancellor and President of HKU Prof Lap-chee Tsui to officiate at the Institute's groundbreaking ceremony in Pok Fu Lam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said the Club had made considerable investments into advancing the city's medical and health development over the years, including promoting primary healthcare, improving medical facilities, introducing new technology, and funding research for the treatment and prevention of diseases.  He also noted that recent scientific breakthroughs in genome research had advanced the public's understanding of human behaviour and health, and of ways to prevent and fight diseases.

"HKU is the regional leader in genome research, human research and teaching," Mr Chan said.  "With the establishment of the Human Research Institute, where multi-disciplinary units will be housed under one roof to achieve closer collaboration, I believe that the University's work on human research can be brought to international prominence."

Located at Sassoon Road in Pok Fu Lam, the Institute's new 12-storey building will accommodate specialised research laboratories and seven inter-related centres - the Genome Research Centre, Behavioural Sciences and Holistic Health Centre, Clinical Trials Centre, Institute of Human Performance Research Centre, Chemical Biology Centre, Medical Physics Research Centre and Magnetic Resonance Imaging ("MRI") Engineering Centre.

Having these centres in the same block will help foster a multi-disciplinary culture and environment and achieve greater synergy for the Institute's human research work.  In recognition of the Club's donation, the block will be named "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research" when completed in mid-2011.

125th Anniversary of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary in 2009/10 season.  Over the past 125 years, it has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.