Since 1998, more than 500 outstanding local and Mainland students have been able to further their education with support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarships. At the Presentation Ceremony & Graduation Celebration Dinner 2017 held last night (23 May) the Club granted new scholarships to 43 students and congratulated 16 recently graduated Scholars as they embarked on their careers. Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip was joined at the event by keynote speaker The Hon Geoffrey Ma, Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal; the Club’s Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow; Stewards Philip N L Chen, The Hon Sir C K Chow, The Hon Martin Liao and Silas S S Yang; Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges; Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung and representatives from the nine participating tertiary institutions.
The expansion of the Scholarships announced by the Club in 2015 includes recognition of the talents of students with special educational needs (SEN) and the efforts they have made to overcome their difficulties. By this means, the Club aims to promote social inclusion. This year’s dinner saw the first cohort of SEN Scholars from the tertiary institutions come together.
In his speech, Dr Ip said the Club was especially pleased to welcome students with special educational needs to the ranks of Jockey Club Scholars. “At the Jockey Club we are committed to helping you in your journeys,” said Dr Ip. “Through all these scholarships and programmes, we hope that talented young people like yourselves will share the Club’s ethos of giving back to society and help us improve the welfare of our citizens.”
This year’s keynote speaker, Chief Justice The Hon Geoffrey Ma, congratulated all the graduating scholars and new recipients, and commended the Jockey Club for its long-standing dedication to Hong Kong’s education and leadership development. “I especially admire the fact that the HKJC Scholarships recognise not only academic prowess but also the students’ commitment to serving the community. It is vital for Hong Kong’s future growth and development that we are able to groom a new generation of leaders who have international vision, while espousing the city’s unique values and community spirit,” said Chief Justice Ma.
The 43 new Scholars are studying at the eight UGC-funded tertiary institutions and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Among them is Elvis Ngai, who is studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration at The University of Hong Kong and was attracted by the opportunity to join development programmes offered by the Club. He thanked the Club for giving him a chance to explore different kind of experiences through the Scholarship. Having a dream to make the community a better place through technology and innovation, he is trying to promote organic farming through online games and offline workshops.
A mainland graduate He Meng-meng at The HKAPA recalled that it was a privilege to receive the Scholarship, as the Club is a well-known charity organisation. “The activities under the Scholarship have made me more aware about community services,” she said. “Since then I devoted more time in volunteering and performed ballet dancing at sub-divided flats occupied by new immigrants.”
To date, the Club has contributed a total of HK$400 million to the Scholarships through its Charities Trust, including a further HK$170 million committed over a five-year period in 2015 to fund an expansion to help nurture more community leaders and provide new development pathways for the city’s most talented young people. Commencing in academic year 2016/17, the expanded scheme each year benefits nine undergraduate students with special educational needs from nine institutions, as well as students in vocational education programmes pursuing a higher diploma or an overseas bachelor. A total of six graduates each year also join postgraduate programmes at the University of Oxford or Harvard University, two of the world’s top universities.
A Scholarship Secretariat has also been established to support the expanded scheme and help groom Scholars to become community leaders.
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 taxpayer 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 welcomes students with special educational needs to the ranks of the Jockey Club Scholars. He says the Club is committed to helping Scholars in their journeys.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (left) presents a souvenir to keynote speaker, Chief Justice The Hon Geoffrey Ma (right).
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Pictured with this yeara£á?s new Scholars are Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip (second row, 6th right), Chief Justice The Hon Geoffrey Ma (second row, 6th left), the Cluba£á?s Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow (third row, 7th right), Stewards Philip N L Chen (third row, 6th right), The Hon Sir C K Chow (third row, 6th left), The Hon Martin Liao (third row, 5th right) and Silas S S Yang (third row, 5th left), Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (second row, 5th left), representatives from the citya£á?s nine tertiary institutions and members of the Cluba£á?s Board of Management.
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Club Chairman Dr Simon S O Ip with Scholars.
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The Cluba£á?s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges with Scholars.
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New HKJC Scholar Elvis Ngai (left) and graduate He Meng-meng (right).
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