The Hong Kong Jockey Club - The Largest Supporter of Higher Education in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has been supporting the development of higher education in Hong Kong over the past decades. Its total donations to various areas have exceeded $5.1 billion at 2000 prices which are adequate for the building of five Hong Kong Stadiums. The University Grants Committee (UGC) and the eight UGC-funded institutions are all very grateful for HKJC's generosity.
"For several decades the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been a staunch supporter of higher education in Hong Kong. The Club's generous donations of over 5.1 billion dollars have made possible the many campus development, research and scholarship projects. I, on behalf of the UGC and the institutions, would like to acknowledge the Hong Kong Jockey Club's contributions with deep gratitude," said Dr Alice Lam, Chairman of UGC.
The HKJC is the largest supporter of higher education in Hong Kong. Since its first contribution of $1.5 million to the development of the University Sports Centre in the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the 1970s, the HKJC has supported a large number of major campus development projects. Buildings donated by HKJC can be found in all UGC-funded institutions, benefiting hundreds of thousands of teachers and students in their teaching and research, and contributing significantly to the enrichment of campus life. (Please see Annex for the full list of HKJC-donated buildings)
So far, the largest single HKJC donation is for the campus development of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). HKUST was established in 1991, and the HKJC generously donated $1,950 million for its construction project, covering 2/3 of the total cost. The success of HKUST today will not have been possible without HKJC's generosity.
The HKJC has also set up various scholarships to encourage students to do their best in their pursuit of knowledge. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship Scheme was established in 1998 to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of undergraduate students, and another scheme, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship Scheme for Outstanding Mainland Students which began in the same year, has supported 550 outstanding students from top Mainland universities to pursue undergraduate studies in Hong Kong. The scheme has been highly successful in broadening the horizons of both the Mainland and local students, and facilitating their communication and mutual understanding.
The HKJC has also been active in supporting the establishment of research centres in various disciplines. The Research and Information Centre for Landslip Prevention and Land Development in the University of Hong Kong and the Jockey Club Centre for Osteoporosis Care and Control in the Chinese University of Hong Kong are the first two examples. In addition, HKJC contributed some $44 million as early as in 1987 for the establishment of the Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre of the then Hong Kong Polytechnic (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University). The Centre is dedicated to providing user-focused services in rehabilitation technology, as well as training professionals in the area.
"The development of higher education in Hong Kong is beneficial to the people of Hong Kong, and the HKJC's generous contributions are a strong pillar thereof. However, HKJC should not be expected to shoulder the responsibility of supporting higher education alone and forever, I appeal to the public and the corporations to follow the HKJC's outstanding model and be our partners in promoting higher education in Hong Kong," Dr Lam said.
UGC Secretariat
29 May 2001
Annex
Campus Development Projects
supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club
| Institution | Name of Building | Completion Date | HKJC's donation |
| CityU | Academic Exchange Building | 1997 | $48.36m |
| Student Hostel Phase 1, Cornwall Street | 2002 | $45.95m | |
| HKBU | Cha Chi Ming Science Tower | 1989 | $1.5m |
| Jockey Club Academic Community Centre | 2000 | $55m | |
| Jockey Club School of Chinese Medicine Building | 2001 | $157m | |
| Student hostels | 2001 | $62.13m | |
| LU | The Jockey Club Hall | 1997 | $76.38m |
| CUHK | University Sports Centre | 1977 | $1.5m |
| Hong Kong Institute of Biotechnology | 1991 | $170m | |
| School of Public Health Building | 2001 | $51.23m | |
| HKIEd | Student hostels | 2001 | $35m |
| HKIEd Jockey Club Primary School | 2002 | $92.74m | |
| PolyU | Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre | 1987 | $44m |
| Jockey Club Auditorium | 1999 | $66.26m | |
| Student hostels | 2002 | $117m | |
| HKUST | HKUST Campus (Phases I & II) | Phase I : 1991 | Total $1,950m |
| Phase II :1993 | |||
| HKUST Annex | 1999 | $40m | |
| HKU | Graduate House | 1998 | $87m |
| Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre | 2001 | $270m | |
| Reconstruction of Lady Ho Tung Hall | 2001 | $36.91m |