Disabled students attending the Hong Kong Red Cross John F. Kennedy Centre (JFKC) can now safely cross a public road separating their two campuses, thanks to a footbridge built with a HK$4.66 million donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Today (20 December), Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow joined Hong Kong Red Cross Deputy Chairman Patricia Ling to celebrate the opening of the new footbridge under the festive Christmas atmosphere with the students.
Sir C K noted the Hong Kong Red Cross has been a long-standing partner of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, working together to serve the needy for sixty years. “As the city’s major non-government community benefactor, we have been a staunch supporter of education. We believe that children with physical disabilities should be given equal learning opportunities to foster their development in ways that can contribute to society in future.”
Founded at Sandy Bay in 1967, JFKC is the only special school offering residential services to children with physical disabilities on Hong Kong Island. In 1995, the Trust funded extension work and renovation of the Centre’s main campus to improve the learning environment. However, with the main campus and the new annex being separated by a public road, safety issues arose, especially for students in wheelchairs. As a result, the Trust made another donation in 2007 for construction of the connecting footbridge, which now enables students to get around the campuses more safely and quickly.
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.
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Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow says the Club is a staunch supporter of education and children with physical disabilities should be given equal learning opportunities to foster their development.
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Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow (2nd left) joins Hong Kong Red Cross Deputy Chairman Patricia Ling (3rd right), Special Education and Rehabilitation Service Governing Committee Chairman Allen Yam (1st left), John F. Kennedy Centre School Supervisor Lau Sit-ming (2nd right), School Principal Cheung Chi-on (1st right) to officiate at the new footbridgea£á?s opening ceremony.
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Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow (right) receives a souvenir from Hong Kong Red Cross Special Education and Rehabilitation Service Governing Committee Chairman Allen Yam (left).
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Photos 4, 5: Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow (photo 4, centre) and Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (photo 4, 1st left) tour the new connection bridge with other officiating guests and the students.
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Students Sean Cheung (1st left) and Sophie Lee (2nd left) share the benefit of the new connection bridge.
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Jockey Club Steward Sir C K Chow (back row, 8th right) Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (back row, 2nd right) and other officiating guests celebrate Christmas with the students. Teachers and students are thrilled by such a timely Christmas present from the Jockey Club.
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The exterior of the new connection footbridge.
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