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Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery prompts public action to protect our fragile planet

27 August 2010

Environmental problems such as global warming, the greenhouse effect and pollution are increasingly upsetting the world's ecology and influencing human lives.  A key weapon in tackling these issues is public education that can enhance the community's understanding of environmental protection and promote green lifestyles among the younger generation.

As one of the city's long-standing green supporters, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has donated HK$15 million through its Charities Trust for the Hong Kong Science Museum to set up the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery.  Through a wide range of interactive exhibits and games, this new permanent exhibition gallery will present a holistic view of environmental conservation, with the aim of raising public awareness of major environmental issues in both the global and local contexts.

Today (27 August), the Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So joined Director of Leisure & Cultural Services Betty Fung; Founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation & Honorary Advisor of the Science Museum Dr Rebecca Lee and other officiating guests at the Gallery's opening ceremony.

Mr So commented that environmental protection and scientific studies were inseparable, as the latter helped people understand environmental problems and explore possible solutions.  "The Hong Kong Science Museum has been playing an important role in conveying environmental knowledge to the public by explaining complex scientific concepts in simple language and through interactive exhibits," he noted.  "With the Trust's donation, the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery will explore environmental issues at global, polar, local and individual levels, taking both macroscopic and microscopic approaches with the aim of boost green awareness and promoting environmental-friendly lifestyles."

Mrs Fung thanked The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for the generous donation of $15 million, which made the establishment of the gallery possible. "Through this exhibition, we hope the public will have a better understanding of the global environment and the close relationship between humans and nature, and use our natural resources wisely," she said.

The 570-square-metre gallery is located on the ground floor of the Hong Kong Science Museum.  It showcases over 40 interactive exhibits covering 10 environmental themes, including global, polar, Hong Kong and personal issues related to environmental protection, such as the impact of pollution on air, water, land resources and life, as well as waste treatment and energy regeneration problems.

One of the highlight topics, "Green Transport", features the solar-hybrid catamarans and solar-powered golf carts now in use at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, which help save energy, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and alleviate air and marine pollution.  Hong Kong's first 45-seater hybrid coach at Ocean Park, funded by the Club's Charities Trust, is also mentioned.

Green concepts have been applied to the fabrication of the Gallery.  It was built with eco-friendly materials and technologies so as to save timber, and lighting is controlled by motion sensors to save energy.  To make good use of renewable energy, several solar panels have been installed on the roof of the Museum to provide partial electricity supply.

Members of the public are welcome to visit the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery from tomorrow (28 August) onwards.  Standard admission fee to the Permanent Exhibition Hall is $25 while half-price concessionary tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above and people with disabilities.  Admission is free every Wednesday. For more information about the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery, please visit: http://hk.science.museum/spexh/ecg/en/index.html.

Over the years, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has placed great importance on sustainability development.  It is committed to conducting its businesses in an environmentally responsible manner, as well as to supporting external green initiatives through its Charities Trust, including the funding of Ocean Park's green vehicle fleet in 2000, and the launch of the Club's own HK$350 million Environment Project in 2008.  The Project includes international symposia, public forums, a series of public promotional activities and school educational initiatives, all aimed at raising public awareness of climate change and related environmental issues.  To demonstrate the Club's commitment to environmental conservation, solar-hybrid catamarans and solar-powered golf carts have been introduced at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course as part of the Environment Project.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club 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.

Photo 1/2: The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd from left); Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Betty Fung (3rd from right); Founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation and Honorary Advisor of the Science Museum Dr Rebecca Lee (2nd from right); Chairman of The Conservancy Association Lam Kin-lai (2nd from left); Chairperson of Friends of the Earth (HK) Robert Young (1st from right); and Chairman of Green Power Dr Eric Tsang (1st from left) officiate at the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery opening ceremony.
Photo 1:
Photo 1/2: The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd from left); Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Betty Fung (3rd from right); Founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation and Honorary Advisor of the Science Museum Dr Rebecca Lee (2nd from right); Chairman of The Conservancy Association Lam Kin-lai (2nd from left); Chairperson of Friends of the Earth (HK) Robert Young (1st from right); and Chairman of Green Power Dr Eric Tsang (1st from left) officiate at the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery opening ceremony.

Photo 1/2: The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd from left); Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Betty Fung (3rd from right); Founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation and Honorary Advisor of the Science Museum Dr Rebecca Lee (2nd from right); Chairman of The Conservancy Association Lam Kin-lai (2nd from left); Chairperson of Friends of the Earth (HK) Robert Young (1st from right); and Chairman of Green Power Dr Eric Tsang (1st from left) officiate at the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery opening ceremony.
Photo 2

The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So believes the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery will raise public awareness of environmental issues and promote a more environmental-friendly lifestyle.
Photo 3:
The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So believes the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery will raise public awareness of environmental issues and promote a more environmental-friendly lifestyle.

The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (middle) explains solar-hybrid catamarans and solar-powered golf carts now in use at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course featured in
Photo 4:
The Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (middle) explains solar-hybrid catamarans and solar-powered golf carts now in use at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course featured in "Green Transport", to Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Betty Fung (right) and Founder of the China Polar Museum Foundation and Honorary Advisor of the Science Museum Dr Rebecca Lee (left).

Photos 5/6/7: Students can learn more about the importance of environmental protection from over 40 different themed interactive exhibits showcased in the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery.
Photo 5:
Photos 5/6/7: Students can learn more about the importance of environmental protection from over 40 different themed interactive exhibits showcased in the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery.

Photos 5/6/7: Students can learn more about the importance of environmental protection from over 40 different themed interactive exhibits showcased in the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery.
Photo 6

Photos 5/6/7: Students can learn more about the importance of environmental protection from over 40 different themed interactive exhibits showcased in the Jockey Club Environmental Conservation Gallery.
Photo 7

 

 

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