HKJC commits to Qinghai earthquake donation and launches fund-raising drive
21 April 2010
Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr John C C Chan announced today (21 April) that the Club would donate the net operating surplus from tonight's Happy Valley race meeting, estimated to be between HK$13m and HK$15m, to help victims of the Qinghai earthquake.
The Club has already made an immediate donation of HK$2 million to support relief work in Qinghai. It has passed the donation to the Red Cross Society of China through the Central Government's Liaison Office in Hong Kong.
Dr Chan said the Club was also calling on the public to support a fund-raising drive between now and Sunday. "We will set up collection boxes at tonight's race meeting at Happy Valley and the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup raceday at Sha Tin on Sunday 25 April, as well as at our two racecourses, all 105 Off-Course Betting Branches, four clubhouses - including Beijing Clubhouse - and headquarters building at Happy Valley," he said.
"It is of utmost importance for us to demonstrate to the people of Yushu in Qinghai at this difficult time that we care and will help them rebuild a better city in the future."
Donations can also be made to a special HSBC account 808-744619-001 in the name of "The Hong Kong Jockey Club - for earthquake relief in Qinghai". All funds raised by the Club will be used to help earthquake-affected people in Qinghai.
In addition, to mourn victims of the Qinghai earthquake, the Club flag has been lowered all day today and a minute's silence will be observed at the beginning of tonight's race meeting.
The Club has given a helping hand to numerous relief efforts in the past, including emergency donations to help those affected by a typhoon in Taiwan last August, and victims of the Mainland snowstorms and Sichuan earthquake in 2008.
Based on an estimated total turnover of HK$770 million for tonight's race meeting, the Club expects to retain about HK$34.3 million after payment of dividends to customers and approximately HK$90.5 million in betting duties to the Government. After deducting direct operating costs and other tax, this would leave a net operating surplus of HK$14 million available for the Qinghai donation.
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Photo 1:
Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan announces that the Club would donate the net operating surplus from tonight's Happy Valley race meeting to help victims of the Qinghai earthquake and launch a fund-raising drive.
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Photo 2:
(from left) Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan, Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Executive Director of Corporate Development Kim Mak and Executive Director of Charities, Legal & Corporate Secretariat Douglas So take the lead by putting money into the collection boxes for the Qinghai victims.
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Photo 3:
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (2nd from left) and Executive Director of Corporate Development Kim Mak (1st from left) present a HK$2 million emergency donation cheque today to Deputy Director of the Central Government's Liaison Office Li Gang (2nd from right) and Deputy Director General of Publicity, Culture and Sports Department Chan Ah King(1st from right), who will ensure the money reaches the Red Cross Society of China.
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Photo 4:
"The Hong Kong Jockey Club - for earthquake relief in Qinghai" fund-raising campaign poster.
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