Jockey Club helps Lingnan University achieve first-ever full residency status

09/18/2014

Lingnan University has become the first University Grants Committee-funded tertiary institution in Hong Kong to provide full residency to its undergraduate students following the opening of the Jockey Club New Hall today (18 September).  Funded by an HK$85 million donation from the Club’s Charities Trust, this new hostel, providing close to 400 bed spaces, complements the existing Jockey Club Hall with 500 bed spaces to establish the Jockey Club Student Village and bring the total residential capacity, with other hostels, to 2,600. 

Officiating guests of today’s Opening Ceremony of the Jockey Club Student Village and the Jockey Club New Hall included the Club’s newly-elected Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip, Lingnan University Council Chairman Bernard Chan and President Professor Leonard Cheng.

Dr Ip told the audience that it was gratifying to know the completion of the Jockey Club Student Village fulfilled the University’s founding mission of providing distinctive liberal arts education for students in an all-encompassing campus environment, as well as helping the University address the needs and challenges that come with the new 3-3-4 curriculum.

“Residential life gives students more time to participate in multi-faceted cultural and social programmes, and facilitates closer interactions between local and exchange students,” he said.

Mr Chan said, “Thanks to the support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Lingnan is able to offer students something that other universities cannot – full residence for our students on campus. I sincerely wish that Lingnan students will treasure all the valuable opportunities given, to learn, to grow, to take challenges, and to maximise their potential to the fullest during their years at Lingnan.”

For Year Three student Siu Pui-yiu, the opportunity to live in the new hostel was very exciting. “The pool of residents here is the most diversified among all the hostels at Lingnan. I like to make friends with people from different backgrounds, and I am sure that my life here will be fruitful and fantastic!” she said.

HKJC Scholarship recipient Lam Wing-yee said the hostel experience had helped her become more independent as she learned to take care of herself and others. “I could save three hours travelling between home and university every day and spend more time on studies, campus events and social activities,” she said. Wing-yee, who comes from a grassroots family, thanked the Jockey Club for providing financial support for her studies.

Another Jockey Club Scholar, Lindsay Lam said, “It is wonderful that undergraduates can enjoy living in a hostel for four years without worrying that there will not be enough rooms. Living in a hostel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and would bring us many unforgettable memories.”

In addition to accommodating around 400 bed spaces, the nine-storey Jockey Club New Hall provides support facilities including student activities areas, laundries, common room with equipment for basic cooking and warden office.  The building incorporates eco-friendly features like motion-sensor controls for lighting and ventilation in public corridors, lifts, staircases and lobbies; LED signs; and green roofs.

Over the years, the Club has donated over HK$178 million to support Lingnan University.  Besides funding the construction of the two hostels, the Club has supported the establishment of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Distinguished Visiting Professorship of Modern Chinese Literature to advance the study of modern Chinese literature in Hong Kong. 

So far, 41 Lingnan students have been awarded Jockey Club Scholarships to recognise their outstanding academic performance and commitment to serve the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.