In its latest effort to promote grief counselling and bereavement support, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has provided HK$1.48 million donation for Hong Kong to host the triennial International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society (ICGB), the first time it has been held in Asia since its founding in 1985.
Today (11 June), Club Chairman T. Brian Stevenson joined Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung, University of Hong Kong (HKU) Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Mathieson, Dean of Social Sciences Professor John Burns and ICGB Organising Committee Chairperson Professor Cecilia Chan to officiate at the opening ceremony of the four-day 10th ICGB in HKU’s Centennial Campus.
Mr Stevenson said, “This Conference, with its theme of East Meets West: Expanding Frontiers and Diversity, involves more than 1,000 local and international experts in the fields of medicine, social work, psychology and academia. The Club is confident that it will provide a multicultural platform for knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary collaboration in the area of thanatology that will help enhance the ability of local professionals to address post-trauma issues and provide quality bereavement service for those in need.”
In preparation for the Conference, the Trust funded a nine-month public education programme with workshops promoting bereavement care to the wider community. The programme involved some 3,700 participants. To sustain the post-conference impact, 20,000 education booklets and self-help manuals with interactive learning materials will be distributed to the public for free.
Over the years, the Trust has supported various hospice care and bereavement support services for the elderly and terminally ill. The initiatives include funding the construction of hospice facilities for the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, and the operation of the Empowerment Network for Adjustment to Bereavement and Loss in End-of-life, a project held from 2006 to 2010 in collaboration with HKU which served to educate the public on effective end-of-life preparation and guidance on ways to cope with grief and loss.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world’s leading horse racing organisations, but also Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong’s single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.
Photos can be downloaded from The Hong Kong Jockey Club website (http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/english/corporate-news/index.aspx).
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Club Chairman T. Brian Stevenson (right), Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung (centre) and HKU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Mathieson (left) officiate at the liona£į?s eye-dotting ceremony. Mr Stevenson believes the Conference will provide a multicultural platform for knowledge exchange and multidisciplinary collaboration in the area of thanatology.
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Club Chairman T. Brian Stevenson (6th right), Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung (7th right), HKU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Mathieson (8th right), Dean of Social Sciences Professor John Burns (8th left), ICGB Organising Committee Chairperson Professor Cecilia Chan (4th right), the Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (5th left) and other guests attend the opening ceremony of the Conference.
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The 10th International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society invites international experts to exchange knowledge on death education and grief counselling in Hong Kong.
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