HKJC's Tin Shui Wai Project wins ''Best Practice Award''

11 November 2009

In recognition of its innovative thinking and excellent leadership, The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Tin Shui Wai Project was today (11 Nov) cited as the "Best Practice in Project Leadership" in the Best Practice Awards 2009.

Organised by the Best Practice Management Group, the Awards programme is aimed at commending the achievements of leading companies in bringing about tangible benefits to their operations and their customers.  The Tin Shui Wai Project exemplifies how the Club is able to transform a business objective into a meaningful community project that brings multi-faceted benefits to society.

The Club's Executive Director of Corporate Development Kim Mak said he believed the Club had won the honour not only because the project demonstrated good leadership practice, but also because it showed what could be achieved by "thinking outside the box".

"The Club has come up with this unique win-win plan to meet the needs of the community and the Club at the same time," he explained.  "It meets the Club's mission of continuously enhancing its customer service, it makes productive use of an under-utilised community facility, it reinvigorates the economy of a disadvantaged neighbourhood by creating employment opportunities, and it helps the local community become more confident and self-sustainable in the long term."

Mr Mak noted that the project had offered Tin Shui Wai not just jobs, but hope.  "The 2,500 jobs created by this project can mean hope for 2,500 families.  Our experience is that people will rise to the opportunity that has been created for them and serve the community in return.  We have observed this spirit before, and the Tin Shui Wai Project was based on our belief that the same spirit could be encouraged and harnessed to enhance our customer service."

The Club started planning the establishment of an additional Telebet Centre in 2007, with the objective of locating it where the employment opportunities would be of most benefit to the local community.  The difficult employment situation in Tin Shui Wai, where jobs were much in demand, made it a clear location of choice.

Apart from providing Telebet services, the Club was keen to make optimum use of its resources by training not only its staff but also other Tin Shui Wai residents.  By offering free training courses to local residents, the Club felt it could help them improve their motivation, vocational skills and knowledge, thereby contributing to the overall quality of the city's workforce.

The Centre also serves as a base for the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team with the aim of building a more caring society in the area.  The CARE team work on individual projects as well as with local community groups in developing tailor-made community services for the area.  These local partners are welcome to display their promotional leaflets in the Centre for better communications with the local residents, and can make use of the Centre's facilities two days a week to hold meetings and events.

Mr Mak noted that the Club was not only committed to giving back to society through its charitable donations, but also believed in making business and strategic decisions based on a mindset of 'win-win' arrangements with the community.  "In the case of this Tin Shui Wai Project, we are pleased that innovative thinking, coupled with rigorous project implementation, has combined to produce a positive and sustainable impact for the community we serve, and on which we depend," he said.

"More importantly, the Club believes that this project can serve as an example to other organisations in Hong Kong, so that many more local residents can benefit from similar endeavours."

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.