Giant panda lovers have had much to cheer about lately. Not only did Hong Kong see the birth of its first-ever locally-born giant pandas in August, but another pair of giant pandas arrived from Chengdu today (26 September). These national treasures are a gift from the Central Government.
Another pair of giant pandas arrive in Hong Kong from Chengdu. These national treasures are a gift from the Central Government.
In support, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has approved a donation of over HK$121 million to upgrade animal habitats within the “Giant Panda Adventure” and “Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures”. These will provide a high quality, safe, age-appropriate and more natural living habitat for giant pandas living in the Park, including snow features and landscape restoration. The donation will also support the expansion of the “Giant Panda Adventure” as well as educational programmes for students from underprivileged backgrounds, enabling them to visit the giant pandas at Ocean Park.
Another pair of giant pandas arrive in Hong Kong from Chengdu. These national treasures are a gift from the Central Government.
HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung, Club Chairman Michael Lee, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation Paulo Pong, and other guests welcomed the arrival of the giant pandas at the apron of Hong Kong International Airport.
HKSAR Government Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki (5th right), Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung (5th left), Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Mickey Lai (4th right), Club Chairman Michael Lee (3rd right), Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation Paulo Pong (4th left), and other guests welcome a pair of giant pandas at the apron of Hong Kong International Airport.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to promoting sustainable development. The Club supported Ocean Park’s construction and initial operations following its opening in 1977. In 1998, the Club’s Charities Trust funded the construction of the “Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat”. After renovation and expansion in 2012, it was renamed the “Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures”. The Club has also supported community projects organised by Ocean Park, including the “Jockey Club Ocean Park Education Programme” and the “Jockey Club Giant Panda Junior Volunteer Programme”, aimed at fostering awareness among students and the community about rare animal species, including national treasures like giant pandas. With this latest donation, the Club and its Charities Trust has approved a total of over HK$900 million in donations towards Ocean Park’s development and operations.
The Club’s support for Ocean Park, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities.
To encourage everyone to lend a helping hand, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust initiated and funded the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER starting from 2022. This includes support for the Hong Kong Volunteer Award, which recognises the many eople who have contributed to the betterment of our society.
Today (10 December) saw the presentation of this year’s Hong Kong Volunteer Award, co-organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Agency for Volunteer Service. Officiating guests included Warner Cheuk, HKSAR Government Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration; Clarence Leung, HKSAR Government Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs; Tian Guiyu, Deputy Director of Department of Social Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Melissa Kaye Pang, Chairman of Agency for Volunteer Services.
Warner Cheuk, HKSAR Government Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration (centre); Clarence Leung, HKSAR Government Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (2nd left); Tian Guiyu, Deputy Director of Department of Social Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR (1st right); Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); and Melissa Kaye Pang, Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Services (1st left) officiate at the Hong Kong Volunteer Award 2024 presentation ceremony.
Club Steward Lester Huang said the Club has been closely collaborating with the Agency for Volunteer Service since the 1970s to promote volunteering. Last year, through JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, the Club supported new awards under the Hong Kong Volunteer Award scheme to recognise volunteers from different sectors and backgrounds. Moving forward, the Club will continue to launch volunteer projects designed to encourage more people to volunteer and to help people in need.
Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, delivers a speech at the HongKong Volunteer Award 2024 presentation ceremony.
Since last year, the Club has supported awards under the Hong Kong Volunteer Award scheme through its JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER initiative. The awards include theJC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Evergreen Volunteer Award, the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Caring School Award, the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Evergreen Volunteer Award (Volunteer Hours) and the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Top 10 Caring School, all of which celebrate exceptional volunteering efforts. The Club is also supporting the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Rising Star Volunteer Award, which recognises people who are volunteering for the first time or returning to volunteering for their achievement and contribution.
Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (centre), and Freely Cheng, the Club’s Head of External Affairs (7th right), with members of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team.
The Club has always been a strong supporter of volunteering. In addition to the volunteer awards supported by its Charities Trust, the Club has its own CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team, comprising employees who actively help out in the community. In 2023, the Club’s volunteer team contributed over 23,000 volunteering hours, positively impacting more than 670,000 people. At this year’s Hong Kong Volunteer Award, The Hong Kong Jockey Club was awarded an Outstanding Corporate Award, Corporate & Non-Commercial Organisation (Volunteer Hours) Top Ten Highest Volunteer Hour, and Corporate & Non-Commercial Organisation (Volunteer Hours) Gold Award in recognition of the achievements of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team.
Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (centre), and Freely Cheng, the Club’s Head of External Affairs (1st left), with recipients of the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Evergreen Volunteer Award and the Outstanding Rising Star Volunteer Award.
Further details can be found on the Hong Kong Volunteer Award website: https://www.hkv-award.hk/
JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, was launched in collaboration with 12 partner organisations. It is designed to encourage and mobilise primary and secondary school students, families, working adults, people aged 50+ and retirees as well as the general public to do good for the community. It has also created the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER PLATFORM to help people identify volunteering opportunities, and register for and keep track of their volunteering activities.
Lester Huang, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (left), and JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Evergreen Volunteer Awardee Kitty Siu.
The Club’s support for the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, like all its charity donations,is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing andwagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities forthe community.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club was honoured with an Outstanding Corporate Award,Corporate & Non-Commercial Organisation (Volunteer Hours) Top Ten Highest olunteer Hour, and Corporate & Non-Commercial Organisation (Volunteer Hours)Gold Award.
The Club’s CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team comprises employees who actively help out in the community.
