Thousands of families from Sha Tin and other districts participated in the Sha Tin FAMILY Arts and Fun Day organised by The Hong Kong Jockey Club at Sha Tin Racecourse Penfold Park today (3 December), which offered visitors a fun-filled and harmonious day out.
The Sha Tin FAMILY Arts and Fun Day was one of the community programmes organised under the "FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society" project, a citywide programme launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with HK$250 million funding in 2007, in collaboration with the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong. The project is aimed at promoting the message of family health, happiness and harmony (3Hs) in the local community.
Sha Tin District Officer Do Pang Wai-yee and Sha Tin District Councilor Scarlett Pong Oi-lan joined the Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor Lam Tai Hing to officiate at today’s opening ceremony.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges told guests that the Club had always enjoyed a close bonding with Sha Tin. “Back in the 1970s when Sha Tin was practically a piece of virgin land, we invested heavily into reclaiming and developing the infrastructure in this area when we decided to build the second racetrack here,” he said.
Since then, Sha Tin Racecourse has been developed into one of the world’s most renowned racetracks. “We have also witnessed the rapid development of Sha Tin to become an exemplary modern new town,” he added.
Sha Tin has numerous Club-funded facilities catering to the needs of the local community and beyond, such as Hong Kong Sports Institute, Jockey Club Ti-I College, Sha Tin Rowing Centre, Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool, Sha Tin Jockey Club Public Squash Courts and the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing. Around 5,000 Sha Tin residents have also found full-time or part-time employment at Sha Tin Racecourse, saving them the need to travel to other districts.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges noted that Penfold Park in particular, located in the infield of Sha Tin Racecourse, “has been serving many local families who enjoy spending time among its spacious green areas,” he commented, adding that the Club had held a number of successful public events and equine festivals there, and it also served as a venue for the equestrian events of Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics.
Today, Sha Tin Racecourse has not only become a landmark in the district, but also one of the must-see tourist attractions in Hong Kong. The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races, one of the world's most important annual horse racing events, will be held at Sha Tin next Sunday (11 December), when top horses and jockeys from all over the world will compete for honours. In addition, thousands of overseas tourists will come to visit the racecourse and other attractions in Sha Tin, boosting the local economy.
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Arts and Fun Day could not have been such a success without the support of many different Sha Tin groups and individuals. These included the Jockey Club Ti-I College, artists from Fo Tan art studios, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong Hin Keng Centre, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Lung Hang Youth S.P.O.T., the Hong Kong PHAB Association Jockey Club Sha Tin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth, and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Jat Min Youth S.P.O.T.
Among other supporters from outside the district were the Arts for the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Sin Ching Kindergarten, Yan Chai Hospital 24th Term Board of Directors Social Service Centre Lau Kwan Ming Children and Youth Centre, and Prudence Mak, designer of local brand Chocolate Rain.
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The Cluba£į?s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (second from right), Sha Tin District Officer Do Pang Wai-yee (first from right), Sha Tin District Councilor Scarlett Pong Oi-lan (second from left) and FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor Lam Tai Hing (first from left) officiate at the opening ceremony.
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The Cluba£į?s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (8th from right), Executive Director of Charities Douglas So (13th from right), Director of Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management Scarlette Leung (5th from right), Sha Tin District Officer Do Pang Wai-yee (7th from right), Sha Tin District Councilor Scarlett Pong Oi-lan (11th from right) and FAMILY Project Principal Investigator Professor Lam Tai Hing (12th from right) photo with various supporting groups and individuals from Sha Tin.
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Participants write down a wish for their loved ones and hang the cards on a specially-crafted Wishing Tree created by the Jockey Club Ti-I College.
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Among exhibits at the Fun Day are art works created by Jack Li and Ko Nam, members of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, who won gold medals at the 2011 International Abilympics in the Photography-Studio and Painting categories respectively.
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Photos 5 and 6:
Popular doll Fatina, a creation of local brand Chocolate Rain, and the art piece of Sunday Afternoon created by Colan Ho prove favourite photo attractions.
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Artist from Fo Tan art studios introduces his art piece on the theme of Hong Kong International Races to the officiating guests.
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Photos 8 and 9:
Visitors are fascinated by the intricate horseshoes turned into art creations and demonstration by the Cluba£į?s farriers.
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Photos 10 and 11:
Participants prepare hand-made gifts for their family members by making their own crafts at DIY workshops.
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Photos 12, 13 and 14:
Family game booths offer participants a fun-filled day.
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Children get an opportunity to learn riding skills.
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Parents and their child pose for photos with the adorable Shetland ponies.
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Photo 17 and 18:
Adding to the ambience of the event are stage performances by the supporting organisations.
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