According to the United Nations more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban environments. By 2030 that number is expected to rise to 60%. It is to address the needs and challenges of such metropolitan communities that The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has convened the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, which opened today (22 September) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two-day forum is the first in the Asia Pacific region to focus on metropolitan social issues. It features some 60 prominent speakers from around the world, who are sharing their views with over 1,000 thought leaders and delegates from NGOs, government agencies and philanthropic organisations.
Officiating at this morning’s opening ceremony were Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip and Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary The Hon John C Tsang. “The theme of this forum is particularly apposite”, observed Dr Ip, discussing the growth of cities and megacities in Asia. “Having grown together with Hong Kong over the last 130 years we have had the opportunity to support our city through its many phases of development”, he continued, reflecting on the Club’s role in Hong Kong. “We are also very aware that the Club is part of a large and burgeoning philanthropic sector. In convening this forum, we aim to build connections within the philanthropic community, to facilitate knowledge exchange, and to create a dialogue on the needs of the 21st century Asian city.”
Mr Tsang said that with Asia’s economic power having grown at an exponential rate, many Asian cities had risen to fresh prominence in the international arena, but at the same time faced various challenges. He expressed his gratitude to the Club for convening the forum which provided a timely opportunity to exchange new ideas, share experiences and identify innovative solutions for various social issues, for the purpose of building a prosperous and inclusive society that could empower everyone to contribute to the community.
The Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum is the opening event of the 2016 Hong Kong International Philanthropy and Social Enterprise Week. It is divided into five main themes: Ageing and Health, Youth and Education, Environment and Sustainability, Innovation and Technology, and Public-Private Partnerships.
Speakers addressing the forum include Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School, who has been described as ‘the father of modern business strategy’. He is best known for his concept of Creating Shared Value, showing how social and economic value can be created together by addressing social issues with a business proposition. Professor Porter congratulated the Club for convening the forum and for the success of its strategic philanthropic role, becoming, he said “a leader not only in Hong Kong but around the world”.
Other leading speakers include Pony Ma, Chairman and CEO of Tencent; Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation; Helen Cadbury, Chair of Barrow Cadbury Trust; and Robert Rosen and Alexander Ng of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Wang Zhenyao, Dean of Beijing Normal University China Philanthropy Research Institute said he looked forward to more such opportunities for Chinese philanthropic institutions to engage with the international philanthropic community. “I must thank the Jockey Club for this forum”, he said. “We can use it to improve communication with international programmes.”
For more details, please visit the forum website: http://citiesphilanthropy.com/.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to community betterment. Through its integrated business model of world-class racing, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution, the Club generates substantial economic and social value and assists the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2015/16 the Club donated a record HK$3.9 billion to charity and paid a record HK$20.9 billion in tax. It is Hong Kong’s largest single tax payer and one of the world’s largest charity donors. 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.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip explained that the objectives of the forum are to build connections within the philanthropic community, to facilitate knowledge exchange, and to create a dialogue on the needs of the 21st century Asian city.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (left) joins Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary The Hon John C Tsang (right) at the opening ceremony of the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (4th left); Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary The Hon John C Tsang (3rd left); Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung (2nd right); Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School (3rd right); The Cluba£į?s Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (2nd left); Stewards Philip N L Chen (1st right) and Dr Eric Li Ka Cheung (1st left).
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Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School shares the concept of Creating Shared Value with participants.
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Professor Michael Porter of Harvard Business School (centre); Matthew Cheung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Hong Kong SAR (right); and the Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (left) discuss how to apply the application of Creating Shared Value to urban settings.
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Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation (2nd left); Robert Rosen, Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (1st right); Wang Zhenyao, Dean of Beijing Normal University China Philanthropy Research Institute (1st left); and Paul Carttar, Founding Director of US Social Innovation Fund (2nd right) share their views on how foundations can help create better cities.
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Ambassador for The Princea£į?s Trust and world record-breaking polar explorer Ben Saunders shares his experiences at the guest luncheon.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (2nd right); Hong Kong SAR Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam (2nd left); Chair of the Organising Committee of the Social Enterprise Summit Dr Jane Lee (1st left); and Chairman of Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises Dr Alice Yuk Tak-fun (1st right) officiate at the joint opening ceremony of the 2016 Hong Kong International Philanthropy and Social Enterprise Week on 21 September.
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