Jockey Club funds renovation of Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre

07/04/2015

Today (4 July) saw the official opening of the newly renovated Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre (CAGCC) in Tsuen Wan.  The renovation was supported by a donation of HK$1.79 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.  The CAGCC is one of four counselling and treatment centres for problem and pathological gamblers supported by the Ping Wo Fund, which has been primarily funded by the Club since its establishment in 2003.  The four treatment centres serve over 15,000 people each year.

The Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung joined Principal Assistant Secretary for Home Affairs Mrs Susanne Wong and President of Caritas-Hong Kong Rev Joseph Yim to officiate at the opening ceremony of the Centre.

Mr Leong Cheung said: “The Trust is pleased to assist Caritas with a donation of HK$1.79 million for the renovation of CAGCC.  The Club has long supported organisations seeking to address various addiction issues, such as the HK$23.72 million we provided to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals to set up its Integrated Centre on Addiction Prevention and Treatment in 2012.”

Although most people gamble in a responsible way as a form of leisure and entertainment, a small proportion gamble to excess.  This is due to various factors, such as family relationship issues, work-relatrd pressure, personal mental health.  With the advancement of mobile technology and easy access to the internet in recent years, the chance of people coming into contact with illegal gambling opportunities has also greatly increased.  As a result, there is growing public concern about gambling-related problems caused by illegal gambling.

Following the renovation, the Centre will be able to provide counselling and treatment programmes to more than 600 problem gamblers and their family members and handle 3,000 telephone calls from persons who require counselling  a year.  In addition, training sessions for staff and education programmes for the public will also be organised utilising the new training rooms.

As a pioneer in promoting responsible gambling, the Club allocated HK$ 24 million to help the government set up the Ping Wo Fund in 2003.  The Ping Wo Fund supports research on issues relating to gambling; public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling; as well as funding NGOs providing counselling and treatment for problem and pathological gamblers.  The Club is the biggest donor to the Fund.  Total contributions pledged by the Club to the Fund will exceed HK$362 million by 2018/19.

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 funds for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record HK$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. Please visit 130.hkjc.com.