HKJC signs MoU for supporting Asian Games Equestrian Events

2 December 2009

The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced today (2 December) that it would design and build equestrian venues and offer supporting and professional services to the equestrian events of the 16th Asian Games, to be held in Guangzhou in 2010.  This follows a recommendation made by the Hong Kong SAR Government to the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC).

A signing ceremony was held today in Guangzhou for a "Memorandum of Understanding between the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, the Guangzhou Municipal Government and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on the Asian Games Equestrian Events Venue Construction, Technical Support and Post-Asian Games Utilisation".  Officiating guests included Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan; Vice President of GAGOC and Vice Governor of Guangdong Province Lin Musheng; Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal Government Zhang Guangning; HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang Ying-yen, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Alan Wong; Club Stewards Simon S O Ip, Dr Donald K T Li, Michael T H Lee, Philip N L Chen, Dr Rita Fan Hsu Lai Tai; and Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

The MoU was signed by Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges and Vice Mayor of the Guangzhou Municipal Government Xu Ruisheng.  The establishment of the Asian Games equestrian venues and the post-Games operations will be the responsibility of a joint venture set up by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Pearl River Enterprises Group Ltd, as authorised by GAGOC and the Guangzhou Municipal Government.

In recognition of the Club's support, GAGOC honoured the Club with the title of "Outstanding Contributor, 16th Asian Games Equestrian Events" at today's ceremony.

Dr Chan said the Club's provision of world-class equestrian venues and a wide range of supporting and professional services for the Olympics and Paralympics had won acclaim from the International Olympic Committee.  "We are now pledging to make good use of the advanced technologies and experience gained from the Olympic equestrian events to contribute to the Asian Games equestrian venues and facilities, as well as provide technical support," he explained.  "With the joint efforts of the Club, Guangzhou City and GAGOC, we believe the equestrian events for the Asian Games will be equally successful and memorable."

The planned Asian Games equestrian venues at Conghua will comprise an events and training area, a supporting facilities area and a stables area which will fully meet the requirements of Asian Games Equestrian Events.  In addition, the Club will offer its consultancy and expert support on a wide range of professional services including horse transportation, quarantine control, clinical laboratory services, site maintenance, veterinary clinical services and equipment, and stable staff and appliances, as well as special equipment required for the competitions.

Furthermore, an internationally-recognised Specific Equine Disease-free Zone (SEDFZ) has been established all the way from Hong Kong to Conghua with the close co-operation of the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.  This first-ever Mainland SEDFZ enables horses from around the world to return to their countries with a set of quarantine protocols for their transportation.  This implies that the Conghua Asian Games equestrian venues will be the only location in Mainland China that can host international equine races and events.

The Club will renovate the equestrian venues after the Asian Games to turn them into racehorse training facilities.  This co-operation exemplifies the measure of implementing pilot policies in Guangdong.  By providing new impetus to the development of Hong Kong and Guangdong and enhancing further co-operation between the two while strengthening the competitiveness of both, this co-operation is capable of bringing about a win-win situation.   The project serves as a model for "Pan-PRD Regional Co-operation Framework Agreement" and helps promote the prosperity of the two areas as well as improving the livelihood of their people.

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.